Bob was born on May 9, 1937, in Jersey City, New Jersey, and spent most of his early years in Hoboken with his parents, Charles and Matilda Luft, and his brother, Thomas Luft. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from May 1955 to May 1963, working in the Naval Aviation Division.
After his time in the Navy, Bob married and became a father to two sons, Robert (Bobby) Luft and Michael Luft. In January 1977, he moved to Texas, where he met and married the love of his life, Carol Thompson, on May 5, 1979. Together, they built a life in Cut n Shoot, Texas, raising their blended family with love and devotion.
Bob had a gift for working with his hands and spent many years building homes, showing remarkable skill in construction, plumbing, and electrical work. Later, he followed his passion for cars and opened Bob’s Auto Body Shop, specializing in antique car restoration.
Even after retirement, Bob never stopped creating. He converted his paint booth into a wood shop and spent countless hours crafting furniture, shelves, and more. A testament to his endless creativity and dedication to craftsmanship.
Bob was also a beloved presence at the First Methodist Church and Methodist Day School in Conroe, where he was lovingly known by the children as “Bob the Builder.” He took pride in helping maintain the facilities, often seen fixing, painting, or installing something to make the space better for others.
But above all, Bob’s greatest joy was fishing. Some of his happiest memories were spent on the water in Galveston or Destin, sharing his love for fishing with his children and grandchildren—a tradition he hoped would carry on through future generations.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Matilda Luft, and his grandson, Justin Kyle Merz.
Bob is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carol Luft, and six children, daughters Holly Woods and fiancé Ray Oliver and Christine Bell and husband Mickey; sons Sean Merz and wife Hailey, Robert (Bobby) Luft and wife Jody, Scott Luft and fiancé Carol Wilborn and Michael Luft and wife Tara. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Alexis Woods, Victoria and Eric Ferrell, Kaylee Merz, Kaleb Merz, Alex Luft, Ryan Luft, and Melanie Luft.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Methodist Day School at 4308 West Davis, Conroe, TX 77304, in Bob’s memory
Funeral services for Bob will occur Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 2:00 PM at Cashner Funeral home, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX 77303, with visitation one hour prior. A committal service will follow at Garden Park Cemetery. After the committal service, the family has invited everyone to a reception at Cashner Funeral Home.
