Robert D. Newman

Robert Donovan ‘Bob’ Newman passed away peacefully on April 4, 2018 in El Paso, Texas surrounded by family. Bob was born February 2, 1931 in Big Lake, Texas with Doctor Patterson traveling to the Newman house where he delivered Robert Donovan. His father, Sam, was a cowboy and his mother, Eva, was the daughter of a farmer. He was raised in the area and graduated from Mullen High School. Bob joined the U.S. Army-Air Force for a 3-year hitch and was involuntarily extended 2 more years. He had several jobs in the service, which included serving as a left blister gunner on a B-29. After his hitch in the military he attended San Angelo College where he joined the Texas National Guard and worked for the Texas Highway Department (TXDoT) as a surveyor. Bob also attended Howard Payne College where he was recruited for the US Air Force cadet program and participated in the pilot/navigator programs. Bob moved to Port Neches, Texas and worked for Gulf Oil in the refinery lab and was a union organizer. He met and married Nelda Bedair and they had four children; Robert, Donna, Deborah and Linda. In 1962, he joined Texas Department of Public Safety as a state peace officer. After completion of the academy he was stationed in El Paso, Texas, then stationed in Sierra Blanca for a few years and eventually back to El Paso. Later Bob married his second wife, Sylvia and into his life came stepdaughter Pamela. After his marriage to Sylvia ended, he never remarried. Bob retired in September of 1993 after 31 years of service as a Texas Peace Officer. At various times along his path in life he worked as a dishwasher in a

café, a cowboy, a farmer, an oilfield worker, drove a truck, was a surveyor, and worked on the college farm. He was a member of the Lion’s Club and the Optimist Club, served the Boy Scouts of America in several leadership roles, and worked with Girl Scouts, Young Men’s Christian Association and Young Women’s Christian Association. Bob was a member of the board of directors and safety chairman for the American Red Cross, and helped set up and participate in voluntary ambulance and fire departments in Hudspeth County. He was a Mason, Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. Bob loved beer, his family and his life in public service. He is survived by one son; Robert Newman Jr. of Sierra Blanca, TX, three daughters; Donna & John Geidner of Easton, CA, Deborah Ingersoll of Austin, TX, Linda & Kevin Hirt of Garden City, TX and one stepdaughter Pamela & Ty Parks of Las Vegas, NV, two brothers; Sam & Evelyn Newman of Grosvenor, TX, Jim & Claire Newman of Grosvenor, TX, ten grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Bob touched the lives of many many people and was one of the unsung heroes who made the world a little better. Rest in Peace. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 17th from 5-9 pm at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1060 Carolina, El Paso, TX with a short memorial service celebrating his life at 7 pm. Burial/short service will be at Ft. Bliss Cemetery at 10:30 am on Wednesday, April 18th. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Veterans Outdoors, 213 Sebastian Lane, Georgetown, TX 78633 http://veteranoutdoors.com