Bob Tillerson

While holding the hand of his wife, Bob J. Tilllerson was taken home to God on February 25, 2018. Born September 16, 1926 to Varnie Maston and Julia Leo Tillerson in Wichita Falls, Texas. Bob was an active Boy Scout and graduated from Wichita Falls Senior High School in 1943. He attended Hardin Junior College (now Midwestern State University) for one year. At the end of that year, at age 17, he enlisted in the Navy. At that time, during WWII, if a young man enlisted prior to his 18th birthday, he could choose his branch of service. Since he had an uncle who was career Navy, he selected the Navy.

During that summer as he waited to be "called up", he served on the Boy Scout summer camp staff at Perkins Scout Reservation in Wichita Falls. It was there that he met his wife, Patty Sue Patton, when she came to the camp to visit her brother. Once camp was over, he had just one week before leaving for Boot Camp and he and Patty were together every night of that week. He left on August 1, 1944, for the war in the Pacific.

Following boot camp, he was sent to Electricians Mate School and in May 1945, was assigned as an EM 3/C to the USS Battleship North Carolina. He served in the Pacific until the end of the war in August 1945. He continued on the North Carolina until January 1946, when he was assigned to a Destroyer for the rest of his tenure.

Discharged in May 1946, he re-entered Hardin Junior College for one year and in August 1947, he and Patty were married. He worked for Taystee Baking Company as a route salesman for 10 years, during which time he serve as Scoutmaster for Troop 10 sponsored by the Presbyterian Church. At that time, the Council approved his receiving the Eagle Scout Badge because of his service in the Navy, even though he was past age 18. He was awarded his Eagle Badge along with 5 members of his troop! He also was a Vigil member of the Order of Arrow organization of scouting. Scouts met at their house and did bead work and feathers, making costumes for their ceremonies---and of course, Patty helped too!

Three children were born to them during this time and in 1958, he was approached to enter the scouting profession. In April of that year, the family began his career in scouting by moving to Vernon, Texas, with their District Scout Executive Dad.

In 1961, the family moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where Bob continued to serve as District Executive but also as summer camp director. They lived there for 7 years, moving to Huntsville, Texas in 1968 where he served for 2 years before moving to Camp Strake near Conroe, Texas, as Asst. Director of camping for the Sam Houston Area Council. Two years later, they moved to Houston, where he became Director of Camping and Activities for the Sam Houston Area Council and later as Director of Special Events and Activities for the Council from which he retired in 1987 and moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

In Pagosa, he became active as a volunteer with the Forest Service, helped move the log hut from Ace Hardware on Putt Hill out to Monument Park and then volunteered with others to make it into an overnight stop for cross-country skiers, etc. He was also active in the early development of the Chimney Rock Site, volunteering many hours. Additionally, he was the summer hike leader for the Gray Wolves Organizations as well as their cross-country ski treks during the winter months. He back-packed the surrounding mountains for several years. As a member of the Rotary Club since 1987, he headed up the parade line-up for entrants in the July-4th Parade for about 15 years. He served as "songmeister" for the club for many years to the present time.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Patty Sue; daughter: Ms. Jo Lyn Peters of Round Rock, Texas; daughter: Dr. Rae Ann Hamilton and husband Judge Lee Hamilton of Abilene, Texas; Son: Secretary of State Rex Wayne Tillerson, and wife Renda of Washington, D.C.; Granddaughter: Kelli D. Hughes of Cedar Park, Texas; Grandsons: Jon D. Peters of Magnolia, Texas, Robert Tillerson of Houston, Texas, Michael Tillerson of Cedar Park, Texas, Tyler Tillerson of Argyle, Texas, Peter Ryan Hamilton of Seatle, Washington, and Benjamin Paul Hamilton of North Richland Hills, Texas; Step Grandson Cody House of Montague, Texas; and 14 Great-grandchildren.

Services will be held in Pagosa Springs at Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St, on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service in Witchita Falls, Texas on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Owens & Brumley Funeral, 1317 Ninth St., Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to: Archuleta Veteran’s Memorial Park http://www.vetsmemorialpark.org your local Boy Scouts Council, or the local Rotary Club.