Robert Lee Ennis

Bob was born on December 4, 1929, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Frank and Carrie (née Sykes) Ennis, the youngest of 3 children. At the age of 13, his mother sent him to Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia, in an effort to get him out of Norfolk amid the increasing wartime activity and influx of sailors. Bob went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, where he acquired the nickname “Flub”, became a proud member of Theta Chi Fraternity and developed his love for photography, earning money on the side by photographing events across campus. He would graduate in 1951 with a BA and BS, and this was the genesis of Bob telling anyone who asked that he was a “liberal arts guy”.

After college, Bob intended to enlist with the Navy, but upon finding out that their enlistments were full, he happened upon a recruiter for the U.S. Coast Guard and began a 20+ year career with the Coast Guard. He was initially stationed in Ketchikan, Alaska, where Bob liked to say his main duty was cleaning barnacles off buoys. He attended Officer Candidate School at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, was commissioned as an Ensign in 1952 and ultimately retired from the Coast Guard Reserve as a Commander. He was a proud “Coastie” and epitomized their motto “Semper Paratus” (always ready!).

It was the Coast Guard which brought Bob to Houston, TX, where a family friend would arrange a blind date with Ruth Maroney. Despite breaking a chair at her family’s house on their first meeting (Dad would say he left that chair in splinters), he and Ruth fell in love and married at Houston’s Holy Rosary Catholic Church in 1954. They settled in Galveston and welcomed Bob Jr. in 1955.

Following in his father’s footsteps (founder of the Frank G. Ennis Paper Company), Bob began his career in the paper industry at Magnolia Paper Company. Bob’s gregarious and quick-witted personality served him well in sales. After a few years he moved the family to Beaumont, TX, where he started the Beaumont Division. Here, the family would grow with the additions of David, Julie and Patrick. The house on Wheat Drive was a hub of activity with many of the neighbors becoming life-long friends. As was the case for all of his life, Bob was actively involved in the church, acting as President of the Sierra Club of Beaumont and as a lector at St. Anne Catholic Church. Many of his children remember Dad practicing Sunday’s reading, his paper covered with notations reminding him when to pause and which words to emphasize.

After the sale of Magnolia Paper Company, Bob and Ruth would end up back in Houston where Bob became the Manager of Century Papers’ Houston Division, and the family would be rounded out with the birth of Becky in 1970. In Houston, the family was active in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Bob and Ruth loved entertaining and hosted many parties at the house on Riverview Way where they would serve their infamous holiday punch. The consummate host, Bob knew how to work a crowd whether with a funny story or one his many quips. To know him was to love him and he was certainly loved by many.

In 1977 an opportunity arose to join Pollock Paper Distributors in Dallas, TX, as Executive Vice President and General Manager and so the family would move for the final time. In Dallas, Dad was a faithful and dedicated member at Christ the King Catholic Church until his passing. Despite the increased distance, the family continued to have annual vacations to the Galveston area, a tradition which started while in Houston. Friends and relatives would be invited to join the family for lazy days at the beach where Dad would happily sail the catamaran sailboat, appropriately named the R.E. Lax. An experienced Coastie, he was always happy to demonstrate his marlinspike seamanship skills and tell anyone who happened to ask what the ropes on the boat were for, that they were in fact called lines. When the wind hit the sails perfectly and the Hobie got to just the right speed, you would hear Dad joyfully exclaim “hum baby, hum!”. After a long day on the beach and sailing, Dad would settle in on the balcony with a bowl of popcorn and nice libation while watching the sunset before dinner, the best part of the day in his opinion. The conversations and laughter would go well into the late hours of the night.

In 1995, Bob retired from Pollock and a coveted award was created in his honor, the Bob Ennis Award of Excellence, given annually to an employee who goes that extra mile and makes a profound contribution to Pollock. His plans for retirement were significantly impacted when his beloved wife of forty-three years, Ruth, passed away from cancer in 1997. During this time Bob began volunteering in the Parkland Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a volunteer “grandpa”, holding and rocking babies whose parents were unable to be with them. A perfect role for someone whose abilities to lull a fussy baby to sleep with his soothing hum were legendary. His work with the babies would be featured in a MSNBC documentary in 1998. Likewise, for his eight grandchildren he had a unique way of making each of them feel special, whether through a special nickname reserved only for them, a great big bear hug or his winning smile. He could banter away for hours with each of them, building special connections that will be remembered fondly.

In 2000, Bob married his sister-in-law, Pat Maroney, and together they were able to travel, attend weddings and visit grandchildren. He remained active in many of his alumni groups and developed impressive skills at creating his own greeting cards on the computer. This hobby allowed him to merge his love of photography with his gift of gab to create personalized notes that epitomized his warmth and sincerity. Tragically, Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010. True to her nature, Pat loved and cared for him unceasingly as the Alzheimer’s slowly stole the ever gregarious, engaging, and playful husband, father, and grandfather from his family. Despite the Alzheimer’s, we are grateful that Dad’s gentle and loving personality always seemed to find a way to shine through almost to the end.

Bob is survived by his wife Pat; children – Robert Ennis (Zora) of Dallas, TX, David Ennis of Lewisville, TX, Julie Sliva (Michael) of Dallas, TX, Patrick Ennis (Marsha) of Grosse Pointe Park, MI, and Becky Bruno (Erik) of Dallas, TX; grandchildren – Ryan Ennis of Houston, TX, Kelsey Ennis of Dallas, TX, Kyle Sliva of Nashua, NH, Cameron Ennis of Stoughton, WI, Hunter Sliva of Dallas, TX, Kathryn Ennis of Grosse Pointe Park, MI, Ruth Bruno of Dallas, TX, and Emilia Bruno of Dallas, TX; and many beloved extended family members and dear friends.

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 6, from 5:00-6:00 pm, followed by a Vigil Service from 6:00-7:00 pm at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX, 75225. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 7, at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8017 Preston Road, Dallas, TX, 75225, with a reception following in the Parish Center. The private interment will be at Calvary Hill Cemetery.

Our family would like to give special thanks to the doctors and nurses of the UT Southwestern Center for Geriatric Care, the Gentiva hospice staff, and especially the loving, dedicated staff and healthcare workers at the Belmont Village Senior Living Turtle Creek for their compassionate care of our father.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob Ennis’ memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Catholic Charities of Dallas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Ennis family.