Roberto R. Bustamante

Roberto R. Bustamante went to heaven on June 12, 2021 at the age of 94. A devoted husband and adored father of four girls; Robert will be remembered as a passionate engineer who served the city of El Paso for more than three decades.

Robert was born March 14, 1927 into a family of engineers. In 1949, he graduated from Texas Western College with a degree in Civil Engineering. He then moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he received his Master’s in Civil Engineering from John Hopkins University.

After graduation, Robert served in the United States Army during the Korean War as a specialist stationed in Washington, DC, working in the Engineering Research Development Laboratories designing bridges, water systems and other infrastructure projects.

After his service, he worked as a civil engineer for Infilco Degremont where he traveled internationally designing industrial and municipal systems throughout the world in areas including Iran, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico and France.

In 1957, he returned to El Paso to marry his wife, Estela, where they raised their four daughters and he made a lifelong career working for the El Paso Water Utilities. There he served in a number of leadership roles and upon his retirement, was honored by the Public Service Board when they names the newly designed water treatment plant in his name, “Roberto R. Bustamante Waste Water Treatment Plant”, located at 10001 Southside Road.

He was known to all as a kind and dignified man who had a sweet sense of humor and a keen knack for projects. Always one to re-engineer all types of household tools, he could fix the unfixable, spin a wicked yoyo, and wiggle his ears like no other.

Robert is survived by his wife of 64 years, his brother Enrique, his four daughters, Aida, Laura, Margie, and Alyce, his sons-in-law and 9 grandchildren.

A Rosary will be held on June 28 at Martin Funeral Home West at 7:00 pm. A Mass will be held at Queen of Peace Catholic Church on June 29 at 9:30 am. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for family members.