Robert Patrick Carroll

He was born July 30th,1925 to a large family of 11 children. He was number 9. Growing up in the bustling streets of New York City aka Manhattan, he spent many days playing outside with his 8 brothers. One of his favorite pastimes as a kid, with his brothers, was sneaking into Yankee Stadium to catch a ball game or observing the horse carriages as they transported people around Central Park. He mentioned the sheep roaming the park many times.

Aside from his love of sports, Bobby also had a love for movies. He enjoyed spending time at the local theaters and watching the latest films.

Despite the challenges of growing up in a large family in the Big Apple, Bobby found joy in simple pleasures like playing outside and watching movies.

Unfortunately, his life took a tragic turn when he lost his parents suddenly at the tender age of 7. He and three of his brothers were placed in the boys' Catholic orphanage in Sparkhill, New York when he was 11.

Without his parents, he had to learn to be self-sufficient at a very young age. He was grateful for the love and support he received. He knew that he was not alone and that God was with him. Though his journey was not easy, he was determined to make the most of his life and give back to those who had helped him along the way.

The orphanage paved the spiritual journey that his parents laid the foundation for. He was able to return to the orphanage for the first time since he left in August 2001, just a couple of weeks before 9/11. At that visit, he visited with 2 nuns who remembered the Carroll boys fondly and he was able to thank them for caring for him and his brothers.

In 1942, at the age of 17, our brave father enlisted in the Marine Corps and joined his older brothers in World War II. He was stationed in the South Pacific on Tinian Island, which was the site where the Atomic bombs were deployed. He often told the story of traveling on the ship to the South Pacific and reading God's words to comfort him on his journey.

Despite the hardships he faced early on in life, Bob showed great courage and determination by serving his country during a time of war. His story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by many during World War II.

After the war, Bob attended Marquette University with the desire to become a Catholic priest, like his brother Greg. However, he realized that it wasn't meant to be after several attempts to no avail.

While working as a manager at a Milwaukee Inn Hotel, Bob met Esperanza Flores, with the guidance of her brother, Roy Flores. Uncle Roy advised our mother to wear a Cross pendant necklace since Roy said Bob was a very spiritual man. ....it worked, they were married and became lifelong partners. Late In the winter of their marriage, after retirement, they loved going to Starbucks and having their coffee and morning bun together. The Starbucks employees loved seeing them every day, the grocery store staff enjoyed their visits and the Starbucks patrons became their friends.

They say that true love lasts a lifetime, and for them, that was certainly the case. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout their 63 years of marriage, they remained committed to each other through thick and thin. From financial struggles to relationship issues, they weathered it all.

Their dedication to each other was evident in the way they cared for each other. They never gave up on their marriage, even when times were tough. They worked hard to keep their love alive, and their commitment to each other lasted to the end.

In a world where divorce rates are high and relationships are often short-lived, their enduring love is a testament to the power of true commitment. They proved that with hard work, dedication, and a deep love for each other, in spite of their struggles, anything is possible.

They had four children, John, Dan, and Elizabeth, who were born in Milwaukee, and Steven was born in Dallas. The family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1969 to be closer to relatives. They settled in South Garland area and raised their family. Neighbors from that street are still friends today.

Despite not having a lot of money, our family had many happy memories together. Our parents went all-out to celebrate Christmas and birthdays with love and happiness. Our parents always put the family first and sacrificed everything for their children. Although we never went on vacations due to our father's work, our family enjoyed weekend drives, family and holiday celebrations, eating in the car, garage sales, parks, and the occasional drive-in movie, and 4th of July celebrations that included fireworks on Lake Michigan, when we were in Milwaukee.

One of his oldest son, John's favorite memories was of his father, when he attended one of his football games. Because he was always working, he never had time to attend any of his games. One night while playing high-school football, he remembered seeing him in the stands with his mother. That made him incredibly happy and also inspired him to always be there for his own children's games.

Remarkably, he never missed a day of work or call in sick until he retired at 72 years old. He was always there, faithfully.

He and our mother have 9 grandchildren, John David (JD), Michelle, Joshua, Taylor, Tyler Campbell V, Cooper, Lauren, and Haley. And they have 3 great-grandchildren, Stone, Story, and Lennon Claire.

Our father was a man of strong faith. He dedicated his life to spreading the good news of who Jesus is and helping others to come to know the Lord. He may have shared a book or two with you along his way. He truly loved the Catholic Church and the Sacraments. He was a firm believer in the power of prayer and he always put his trust in God. He was a role model for his children and grandchildren, showing us what it meant to be a faithful servant of the Lord. He was truly a disciple of our Lord.

When our father passed away, I was sure that the Lord had welcomed him with open arms. I can only imagine the joy that he must have felt when the Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of My house.” Our father was a great man and I am sure that he is now in the presence of the Lord, rejoicing in His glory.

The Lord Blessed us to share in your beautiful journey and I know you feel the same.

Rest now Dad, your work here is done. We will celebrate you in every way possible to honor your life's dedication to our Lord and to your family.