Robert (Bob) Henry Klein was born, January 15, 1929, in Dallas, Texas to George and Theresa Schifferdecker Klein, the youngest of four children. He attended Dallas County public schools, Jesuit High School and graduated from Mesquite High School. After graduation he worked for his father’s concrete company, George Klein Concrete and various other jobs, including one at St. Edwards Catholic Church. It was while he was working at St. Edwards, in the spring of 1949, that he first met his future wife, Frances Marie McCarthy. A small child under her care had run away and he returned the child to her. They met the second time at a dance sponsored by the St. Edwards Cathedral Club and he offered her a ride home. Bob went to school in Chicago, Illinois for a brief period but his relationship with Frances had become serious so he decided not to return to Chicago, and took a job at Lone Star Cadillac. He proposed to her at Samuel Park and they were married in 1951 at Sacred Heart Cathedral (Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Dallas, Texas.
His career included positions at Friendly Chevrolet, Ford Motor Company, where he was awarded Special Recognition for Production Line Innovation and Triple S Dynamics. It was at Triple S Dynamics where he made life long friends and enjoyed daily games of 42, until his retirement in 1994.
Bob was an original member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. He was an usher at 10:00 Mass on Sunday, was a member of the Men’s Club and served as an Acolyte for 6:00 am weekday Mass during his retirement years. Bob was a member of the Knights of Columbus, coached youth baseball and was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed taking his children to Dallas Cowboy games at the Cotton Bowl and Texas Ranger games at Arlington Stadium. His pastimes included crossword puzzles, solitaire, reading and caring for his pets. In retirement he began a hobby of making stained glass objects. He won awards at State Fair of Texas competitions for his stained glass creations. His specialty was tiffany lamps.
His parents, his brother George Klein and his sisters Margie Klein Duncan and Mary Klein Hefner, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Frances McCarthy Klein; children: Mindy Klein Grazulis (Gerry), Chris Klein (Connie) and Lauri Klein Oberlander (Andy); grandchildren Drew Klein (Mary), Derek Klein, Meredith Oberlander and Audrey Klein; great grandchildren: Samantha Klein and Mattie Klein.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org) or the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).
* a kind, generous soul *
