Mr. Robert H Bolen

Robert H. (Bob) Bolen, 86, of Waxahachie, TX, passed peacefully to be with our Lord on Nov. 29, 2014, after a year-long battle with cancer. Bob was born on May 6, 1928, in Nevada, MO, the only son and youngest child of Caroline (Braswell) and Robert E. Bolen. Shortly after his birth, Bob's family moved to Joplin, MO. He graduated from Joplin High School, in 1946, and later attended Joplin Jr. College. He loved sports and played football in HS and college. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bob served his country at the end of World War II and later as a Navy Corpsman during the Korean War. After completing his military service, he attended Baylor University where he met the love of his life and wife of 61 years, LaVerne Hanks. They were married in Dallas on Aug. 29, 1953. Bob and LaVerne completed college at Baylor, where he received his BBA degree in 1955. Bob and LaVerne moved to Dallas after their graduation. In 1955, Bob started his business career with Baylor Dental School, in Dallas. He later worked for the Southern Baptist Convention, then continued working in university management with the University of Corpus Christi (TX), and in Dallas with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and at Dallas Baptist University. Bob later worked in his private accounting practice, from his home in DeSoto, TX. From the mid-1950's to the present, Bob and LaVerne made their homes in Dallas, DeSoto, Corpus Christi, Arlington and Waxahachie, TX. Bob was a devoted Christian and a long-time member of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, in Oak Cliff. Bob was predeceased by his parents, his sister Sally Moore, and half-sisters Grace Merrill, Sylvia Cline, Roberta Evans, Bonnie Davis and Mary Slater. He is survived by his wife, LaVerne, and three grown children: Robert S. (Sam) Bolen (wife Michele) of San Marcos, TX; David P. Bolen (wife, Carol) of Katy, TX; and Susan E. Bolgiano (husband Randy) of Granview, TX; grand children Samantha Menendez (husband Darren), Allison Bolen, Charles Ager, Lauren Bolen, Kristen Bolen and Jake Bolgiano; great granddaughter Elizabeth Menendez; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and life-long friends. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Robert H. (Bob) Bolen will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Laureland Memorial Chapel, 6000 South R.L.Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX, with pastors Dr. Dan Griffin and Dr. Brent McDougal officiating. There will be a time of visitation for family and friends at Laureland one hour prior to the memorial service. Private burial services with immediate family will follow. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Bristol Hospice Pathways LLC for their loving care of our husband, father and grandfather, and also thank the wonderful staff at Renfro Healthcare Center, in Waxahachie.