Robert Scott Trotter

It’s no tall tale at all: Bob Trotter was a man with a heart bigger than his 6’7” frame. He loved to encourage and care for people at work, home, and in his neighborhood. He was the son of Carl and Jean Trotter, born into life October 6, 1945, in Champaign, Illinois. Bob was the oldest brother of Carla, Mike, and Steve Trotter; he would later become brother-in-law to Rosemary, Don, Ed, Patti, Judy, Marybeth, and Julia. Robert left home at age 17 to serve on the USS Intrepid as a US Navy avionics technician. Bob always said his biggest accomplishment and best decision was his marriage of more than 48 years to his wife, Barbara (Wolf) Trotter, both graduates of Western Illinois University. Just six weeks after they met, Bob proposed marriage to Barbara with three promises: 1) air-conditioning, 2) it would be a lot of fun, and 3) it would never be boring. Bob kept those promises to the very end of his days. Alongside his humor and wit, he encouraged integrity, equal opportunity, and kindness at work for 34 years of distinguished work in the US Customs Service. Bob joyfully touched history at points: While sailing on the USS Intrepid, he and fellow sailors picked up a Gemini space capsule. When working with the US Customs Service, Bob traveled to China in the 1980s to open the country for trade with the WTO. He traveled to Geneva in 1985 for the Reagan Gorbachev Summit (also with US Customs), and later met two presidents. Bob was a supportive, loving dad to both his favorite daughter, Kate (Trotter) Hall, and to his favorite son, Matt Trotter. Bob delighted that his children married wonderful, happy, successful spouses: Seth Hall and Mary Jo (Schultz) Trotter. Grandpa Bob is survived by six outstanding grandchildren (Hannah, Emma, Claudia, Harrison, Liza, and Hunter), and his remains will be laid to rest next to his seventh (Clara). Frequently prompting them to “tell it like it is,” Grandpa Bob loved to hear the truth that came “out of the mouths of babes.” To nine nieces and nephews, he was Uncle Robert, and they delighted in his visits. In “retirement” Bob worked two part-time jobs for nearly a decade and led the Sweetgrass Veterans Club in his Texas community, serving in leadership and hands-on roles in three other organizations. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed lawn and garden work and walking his canine companions (Trixie, Patches, Ellie, and Maggie). Bob was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on April 12 and fought the disease bravely with the helpful staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center—but the disease is tough. His last spoken words were, “I love you”, to his wife Barbara. A few days later, trusting in Jesus as his Savior, Bob entered eternal glory on June 26, 2019.

Funeral details

July 5, 2019

11 a.m. memorial celebration service for Robert “Bob” Trotter

Family will greet people from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

As Bob was a patriot and loved our country dearly, please consider wearing some red, white, or blue.