Robert Benjimin Petru was born January 11, 1932 to Frank and Johanna (Velek) Petru in Corpus Christi, Texas. He passed away at the age of 92 with family by his side in Houston on September 5, 2024. He is survived by daughter Karen (Petru) Morris and husband Greg; son Glenn Petru and wife Candice; daughter Susan (Petru) Maynard and husband Steve; grandchildren Sarah (Morris) Land and husband Jordan; Jennifer Maynard, Phillip Maynard, Andrew Maynard and wife Tracey; Grant Petru, Cullen Petru; and great-grandsons Hugo Land and Duncan Land. He is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Bernice (Machac) Petru, his siblings, and his parents.
The youngest of eight brothers and one sister; Charles, Julius, Jim, Frank, Louis, Stanley, Gus and Mary, Robert’s early childhood years were spent in a small farming community in the Rio Grande Valley. In Raymondville, he was a proud member of the high school band and talented tuba player, and sang in the church choir. The town celebrated the ordination of his three brothers as Catholic priests, and he experienced an upbringing enriched in Czech heritage that would instill in him the value of hard work and humility. He loved a good polka or patriotic march, and even though he no longer had a tuba, he never stopped playing the oompah parts when he heard a good one, especially Stars and Stripes Forever.
While in high school Robert joined the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was stationed in Fort Hood, later California and then Frankfurt, Germany as a radio operator. During his time at Fort Hood, his newlywed brother Frank and wife Tillie introduced him to Tillie’s beautiful niece Bernice. Smitten right away, he spent all leaves from duty in Houston to see her. The letters they wrote back and forth to each other while he was in Germany inspired him to do some shopping, and he came home with an engagement ring. They were married on Monday morning November 15, 1954 with his brothers Fr. Gus, Fr. Stanley and Fr. Julius officiating their wedding Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church.
Robert and Bernice began their young married life living in the Houston Heights, just a short distance from their jobs at Sakowitz in downtown Houston, and his classes at University of Houston. Shortly after settling into their new home in northwest Houston their first child, Karen, was born. Just 14 months later their son, Glenn, arrived. They were a busy young family who enjoyed spending time with siblings and cousins in their spare time, and took frequent trips to Padre Island and Galveston. When Karen was not yet 4 years old, they welcomed Susan, their youngest daughter. An incredibly proud dad, he made time to be there for their accomplishments in school, Brownies, Cub Scouts, sports and band. He was an accomplished backyard cook, and had fun in occasional tennis matches with his friend Fr. Charles Sonnier.
Robert was a talented designer draftsman and throughout the years worked at Texas Metal Fabricating Company, EFCO, Dow Chemical, and M.W. Kellogg. During an industry downturn in the 1980’s he acquired his HVAC license and did his own contract heating and air conditioning work in the Oak Forest area, later returning to M.W. Kellogg where he was awarded a U.S. Patent and later retired.
Family, friends and neighbors were what his life was all about. He rejoiced whenever a brother or his sister Mary could come for a visit. As his children grew up, married, and started lives of their own, he was overjoyed with the addition of each of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Robert was almost always on hand for a grandparent’s day at school, recital, soccer or baseball game, band or orchestra concert, graduation, baptism, confirmation or birthday. In recent years after losing the love of his life, he was elated when he would get a Duo or FaceTime call so he could see and hear their great grandsons’ sweet voices from half a world away because it felt like they were right next door.
Robert was an avid UH band and football fan, and was often heard whistling the fight song or an Eat ‘em Up at any given time. A perpetual problem solver, if you ever needed something mechanical fixed, he’d likely be calling you on the phone to offer guidance and instruction, or simply volunteering to do it himself. We’ll be keeping his two enormous jars of every kind of screw, bolt, nut, washer or nail for anyone who needs to scavenge from it.
Robert was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church for many years and the Holy Name Society. He delighted in being able to use his grilling skills alongside Bernice’s brother, Joe, to cook all the sausage for the St. Ambrose Altar Society Annual Barbeque sale each year. After moving from their Oak Forest home of 38 years to Spring Shadows in 1999, Robert and Bernice joined the senior’s group at St Catherine Siena Catholic Church where they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary and many more at that church community. Even after the big move, Robert’s car seemed to have an auto pilot mode set to Tia Maria’s near Delmar Stadium at least once or twice a month, where he will forever be remembered for ordering the #1 with chili gravy and a frozen with salt.
Forever blessed by his love and kind heart, we will all miss his smile, his appreciation for a stellar poppyseed kolache or apple strudel, his joy whenever he heard a good march or polka, and his gratefulness for the simple things in life.
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