Mr. Robert "Bob" Murphy Blanton

Bob was born on August 1, 1937 in Waskom, Texas to the late Ralph Ralston Blanton and Sally Blanche Dyer. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his older brother John Ralston Blanton and his nephew Kendall Brent Blanton.

Bob grew up in Grand Prairie where he graduated from Grand Prairie High School. He played football for Grand Prairie High School Gophers. He was called Bobby by his old school friends and some family members. Bob was voted the “Most Handsome” in High School his senior year.

Upon graduating from high school, he spent 2 summers working on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This was a great life experience for him that he was proud of having done.

Bob attended TCU and studied Personnel Management and Business. He went to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas where he was an electronics night manager for 15 years.

Bob married his wife Billie in February of 1964 and they had 3 beautiful daughters together. He said his proudest moments in his life was when each of his daughters were born. He adored them and they thought he had hung the moon.

Bob went to work with his brothers at San Juan Pools and spent the next 35 years as a swimming pool contractor until his retirement.

He moved his family to North Richland Hills in 1974. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Hurst since 1977, where he raised his daughters in the church and made numerous longtime friends.

There was nothing in this world more important to Bob than his family. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Billie Herod Blanton, daughters Betsy Montoya, Karen Luckett and her husband Buster, and Kelly Stafford. Grandchildren, Charles Lewis III, Michael Lewis, Valorie Huffstetter (Roy), Bridget Castillo (Jr.), Rachel Langston (Toby), Christopher Montoya, Courtney Montoya and Chasity Luckett. Great Grandchildren, Natalee Cobb, Ethan Cobb, Mavis Langston, Maverick Langston and Savannah Regaldo. Brother Kerry Wayne “Butch” Blanton (Carolyn) and 4 nieces and 2 nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews. He had long time friends that he bowled and played poker with that he considered family. Everyone that ever met him felt like an immediate part of the family.

Bob was an avid hunter and had been a member of the Safari Club International Dallas branch for many years. He and his brothers hunted in Colorado for years and he always looked forward to that time with them. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to hunt in Alaska, Argentina and Africa. Each hunt brought more stories to tell the children and grandchildren. He was a collector of many different unique items. He loved watching movies and was extremely fond of westerns. Many times he would sit

with his grandchildren and watch the shows and sing the songs to them that played at the end of the movie.

He was one of the great story tellers, whether they were a story of something that he personally experienced or one that he had made up. All the family knows is that he fought quite a few bears with his bare hands. He had a super sense of humor and could make anyone laugh. He always wanted everyone around him to be happy. He is truly a man that never met a stranger, he would speak to everyone that crossed his path, whether it was a short hello or long talk. He was a kind, gentle and patient man. He loved children and they all loved him. He had a love of history, he loved visiting historical places with his family and was always teaching one of the kids or grandkids something about history.

He was a wonderful husband, Dad and PaPa and will be dearly missed and always loved.

The family is asking that donations be made to Shriners in lieu of flowers.

If you wish to send floral condolences in honor of Mr. Bob Blanton, you may call Lilium Floral Design at 817-589-1566 or http://www.liliumflorals.com