Robert Wayne Lampkin

4-3-24

Larger than life, Bob entered this world with enthusiasm for all it had to offer. He never wanted to break from all that could be accomplished. One of his early quests was to raise and show sheep from his family farm. These experiences were realized when he became the vice president and subsequently president of the FFA at Southwest High School, where he evolved to master his leadership skills and compete in state championships, where he dominated. As if this was not enough, after hours of dedication to his daily routines, he mastered the art of dance. He became noted for his smooth maneuvers across the dance floor, and astonishingly, he still found time for yet another challenge—pool. He was feared by many in pool parlors galore as he realized that he had developed an eagle eye for accuracy and control, where winning soon became second nature to him.

Graduation soon followed, and he had to push forward. After high school, he followed many of his friends and joined the Navy to serve his country. He soon realized that there were better matches for him. He chose to pursue another path that was more suited to his skill level. He returned to continue his education and attended college. He graduated from Texas A&M with an Agricultural of Engineering degree while working two additional jobs, while carrying a full course load with honors. After graduation, he balanced his skills and aced the LSAT to attend the University of Texas Law School, and this experience served him well in many of his endeavors. Once in the work world, he searched for a way to use all his expertise by combining his true love of creation, construction, and supervision. At last he found a way to pacify his thirst for making a difference. Building became his career of choice as he flourished in the industry. You could later link this to his acquiring an insurance adjuster license, which led to a lifetime of expert testimony for numerous notable attorneys. His accomplishments in education made him a winner in the courtroom. To this day, we still receive calls from attorneys seeking his guidance and insights.

Previous experiences contributed to his pursuing a new hobby, and this is when he decided to raise bees and became the proud owner of two complete, separate bee colonies in town. He maintained his hives and housing, making them most prolific, which led to his harvesting the honey and canning it as welcome gifts to family and friends.

While working professionally and always helping friends and family, he needed an interesting and fun outlet, so he decided to take up sailing. Now, he would have to master the art of sailing, which would be better facilitated with constant access to a boat. Next, he purchased a yacht named "Bitter Sweet." The perfect name for what was to come. Once he mastered his skills and completed his certifications for his Captain's license, Captain Bob decided that the boat needed to be in the open waters—the Gulf of Mexico.

After twenty years of fun in the sun, the boat sustained Hurricane Harvey. Don't even dream that his boat was harmed; it was one of the few remaining boats afloat. It was a miracle, as the storm took out half the city and most of the surrounding docks and boats. Getting to a boat with no facilities was yet another challenge. Later, he gifted the boat to someone much younger to facilitate others' realization of the fulfillment that he had experienced.

As time passed, he was forced to retire. You can't run forever; there has to be a finish line. His love and affection for his family became paramount to him. Now, he could kick back and be a loving Husband, Father, and Papa.

We will always love him and miss him.