Robert Douglas Montgomery

father and grandfather, passed away from Alzheimers in the supportive arms of his family in

Louisville, Kentucky. Bob was born in San Francisco, California to his father, Major USAF

Edwin Culver Montgomery and mother, Imogene Bernice Brazell Montgomery. Bob spent his

early childhood in San Francisco, California; San Antonio, Texas; Hubbard, Texas; Taylor,

Texas; Japan and Guam. He went to Great Falls High School in Great Falls, Montana and

attended Montana State University in Bozeman for two years, where he was very active in the

Air Force Cadet Drill Team. When his parents retired to Austin, Texas, he joined them there for

his last years of college at the University of Texas. That is when he met Carol Lee Simpson, the

love of his life, at Windsor Park Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, the day he became a Christian.

Bob was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant USAF in 1968 and trained at Vandenberg Air

Force Base, California, to start duty as a Titan Missile Operations Officer at McConnell Air Force

Base, Wichita, Kansas. He and Carol married soon after and moved to their first home in

Wichita, Kansas. After five years, they were assigned to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois to do

additional training for a Minuteman Missile Maintenance Officer position at F. E. Warren Air

Force Base, Wyoming. While there, he also went to Squadron Officers’ School in Alabama.

It was in those years in Wyoming that Bob and Carol became the proud parents of Carrie Lynn

and Robert Christopher; and, he completed a Masters Degree from the University of Northern

Colorado in Counseling, Guidance, and Psychology. They also continued to be active in their

Christian faith and Bob felt the call of God to enter full time ministry as a pastor. The family

moved to Texas, where Bob began his study of theology receiving his Masters and Doctorate

degrees from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He pastored the First

Baptist Church, Cranfills Gap, Texas; First Baptist Church, Harker Heights, Texas; served as

Associate Minister, First Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina; and pastored Park Street

Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina. In 1987, he accepted his last pastorate at

Hurstbourne Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a career with Arch L. Heady as a

Funeral Director and several years as an Adjunct Professor at Spalding University, where he

taught Crisis Counseling.

Bob and Carol shared a love of travel both abroad and within the continental United States.

Bob’s favorite part of travel was hiking. He hiked both rims of the Grand Canyon and many

National Parks and Forests. One of his favorite places was Alaska, where he and Carol took

three trips and had a fourth planned. He also loved the annual summer trip with Carol, his

children, their spouses, and all five grandkids to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When not

reading his Bible or hiking, Bob loved to build models of airplanes, ships, and lighthouses;

studied history (especially WWII); and walked his two beloved schnauzers, Smokee and Mistic.

Survivors include wife, Dr. Carol Montgomery and daughter Carrie Montgomery Willis and

husband Daryl, and their children, Jack Wathen and Caroline Wathen and son, Chris

Montgomery and wife Julie and their children Kaylee, Carson and Cassie; brother Dick

Montgomery and his wife Christie, niece Kate and nephew Tyler and their families; and first

cousins: David Galnor, Greg Brazell and Kyle Brazell along with their families. He will also be

missed by his three brother-in-laws and their wives (who knew him for over 55 years): Mike

(Martine), David (Linda) and Ross Simpson along with other cherished family and friends.

Bob wanted to leave these words with each of you, Colossians 2:5 and Colossians 1:9-14. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Montgomery, Daryl Willis, Jack Wathen, Carson Montgomery,

Dick Montgomery, Tyler Montgomery, David Galnor, Greg Brazell, Kyle Brazell, Mike Simpson,

David Simpson, and Ross Simpson.

Services and burial for Bob will take place at a later date in Valley Mills, TX.