Robert Louis Arata

Bob served in the Navy during the Korean War and met his wife of sixty years on a blind date while he was in basic training in Memphis, TN. Bob and Jo were united in marriage on December 31, 1954. During the early years of their marriage they lived in Beeville, TX, Memphis TN, Little Rock, AR, Chicago, IL and Columbus, OH before moving to Garland, Texas in 1963.

Bob became an electrical engineer, a salesman, the owner of several businesses, and a leader in his church. He loved to play cards, whether he was playing Black Jack against the house in Las Vegas or War against one of his grandchildren. He loved technology, flying with and working on the electrical systems in planes the future astronaut Alan Shepard flew while they were both in the Navy and training the chimpanzees that went into space in the early days of the space program. He loved CB radios and was one of the first to buy or procure the earliest and newest versions of the calculator, car phone, mobile phone, laptop computer, answering machine, and large screen television. He enjoyed talking to family, friends and those whom he had just met, telling stories and making friends with everyone in the room. He kept boxes of business cards of the people he encountered and decades later could recall their names and where they had met. He loved being near, in or on the water, boating, watching the Dallas Cowboys and traveling.

Most important to Bob, though, were being a husband and father and grandfather, father-in-law, son, brother, and brother-in-law. He was so very proud of his family. Those who knew and loved him enjoyed his gentle kindness, love of teasing, intelligence, passion, generosity, perseverance, and wisdom. We will miss him terribly.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ann Jo Riker Arata; his children and their spouses: Terry and Alan Arata-Maiers, David Arata, Diane and Chuck Paradowski, Julie and Thom Beyer, Stephen and Kathryn Arata, and Cindy and Mike Ragan; his grandchildren: Rachel Arata-Maiers, Chad, Christopher and Colton Paradowski, Zoe and Jonah Beyer, Jeremy, Hanna and Julianna Arata, and Abby and Caroline Ragan: his siblings and their spouses: John and Donna Arata, Madeline and the late Jerry Streich, and Charles and Alice Arata; his in-laws: George Edward and Ellen Riker and Harry and Miriam Riker; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

We are very grateful to the staff at VNA Hospice Services and to Sheila, Yaniqua, Moon, Stephanie, and Monique at Always Best Care. Most especially we would like to thank Mom and David for their steadfast care of Bob / Dad during the last years of his life.

Bob's Rosary will be on Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 7:00 pm at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 George Bush Turnpike, Dallas, TX 75252. His memorial service will be held at Shipp Chapel at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75220, on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 11:00 am, Fr. Tom Cloherty presiding.

Flowers may be sent to Ted Dickey West Funeral Home or memorial donations may be made to the Bob and Jo Arata Family Scholarship Fund at Bishop Lynch High School, 9750 Ferguson Road, Dallas, TX 75228.

Memories of Granddaddy / BobBob

Rachel

I have many memories of my grandfather over the past 26 years: memories of us playing war and chess, for I won many more times against my grandfather than I should have. I remember holidays filled with happiness, Catchphrase, Guesstures and the best sugar free chocolate pudding pie Aunt Julie makes every year. I remember thinking Diet Coke is the only soda known to man and how I was taught to put sweet-n-low in and on everything because Granddaddy didn’t eat sugar.

The memory of Granddaddy I remember the most was when my mom and I lived in Waco. When my mom was going to grad school, before she met my amazing father, it was just us two. One year my school was having a father’s day lunch where all the fathers came to have lunch with their daughters. I was very worried that on this day I would be the child with no one there by my side to show off and was worried about being asked where my father was and why didn’t I have one. When the time came, Granddaddy came to the lunch at school, and boy did I show him off to all my friends and I remember thinking I was the coolest girl in school to have a grandfather with me.

I believe this story really shows the type of person my grandfather was. He was an amazing man. He was always there for our family and he could fill a room with laughter or awe with all the stories he told us about his adventures and travels. He was a great grandfather and my first male role model. He will be very missed by all, but his love and the memories of him will always remain in my heart. I love you, Granddaddy.

Chad

One of my funniest memories of Granddaddy dates back to Super Bowl XXXVIII and the notorious 'Wardrobe Malfunction'. Being the technological savvy Grandfather he was, he made sure to get the most out of the rewind function of the new TiVo they had gotten for Christmas. Love you, Granddaddy!

Christopher

Some of my best memories of Granddaddy are from the times when my parents went out of town and he and JoJo would come over to watch my brothers and me. I don't remember being naughty, but I hear that we were not the most well-behaved grandchildren when we were younger. I guess I have to believe it because after one of these trips, Granddaddy decided that it was time to hand down the infamous

"Fannywhacker" to my mother. Despite our misbehavior, I remember all of the good times playing games like Tripoley and Farkle, going to movies, and going swimming at the condo by Lake Ray Hubbard (and Granddaddy swimming the length of the lap pool without taking a breath).

Thank you, Granddaddy, for all the love and support you have given me all of my life. It always meant so much to me when I would look into the stands at all my sporting events and see you and JoJo there cheering me on. I know that you will always be there to cheer my cousins and me on; you're just doing it with God now. I love you, Granddaddy!

Colton

Something about Granddaddy that I will not forget is watching football games with him and JoJo and him always yelling at Romo, "Throw it to Witten, Jo". Another memory I have of Granddaddy is how long he could hold his breath. One summer we were at the KC pool and I had just gone down the slide when I went to the shallow end to be with my mom, JoJo and Granddaddy. After about a minute of Granddaddy being face down in the water I frantically asked my mom if he was okay. JoJo overheard me asking my mom and just tapped Granddaddy on the shoulder, bringing his head out of the water, where he looked around and then went back to holding his breath with his face in the water. It was such a scary moment for me and it has stuck with me because of how calmly JoJo acted.

He set such a great example for his grandchildren and we are going to miss him very much. Love you, Granddaddy.

Zoe

I remember BobBob and JoJo coming to see my soccer games, plays, open houses or award ceremonies. He and JoJo made it to every game and performance they could. It was always nice knowing they were there in the audience for me. We could always tell that BobBob was proud of his children and grandchildren.

Jonah

Some of my best memories of BobBob are of us celebrating our birthdays with him. He and JoJo would meet us at Red Robin and we would have dinner together. We would laugh and talk and have a good time and I would get to open my present while we were there. BobBob would always order the stack of onion rings. He sure loved to eat!

Jeremy

After my first year of college, I remember coming home for the holidays and talking to Granddaddy about it, including my first year taking conversational Japanese. Immediately, though he had some trouble talking, he gives me a smile and greets me in Japanese, the way he learned when he went abroad decades earlier. For the following years, whenever he saw me, he would be sure to say hello in Japanese so we could share that. It was a small thing, but it was something that I appreciated and always brought a smile to my face.

Hanna

I remember when granddaddy and I would play cards for hours on end... Especially skipbo! He was so good at cards and he always beat me. I loved playing cards with him.

Julianna

He is in a better place now, and we are in a better place for having been touched by his love, humor, and wisdom. We will miss you Granddaddy / BobBob and now we have another wonderful angel looking down over us. I loved playing war with you and I remember you sitting in your big chair in your old house. I loved having sleepovers at your house, and I remember the day I met and first remembered you 14 years ago.

Abby

I remember the day we celebrated BobBob's 75th birthday. At his party, I can still see him dancing with JoJo, grinning from ear to ear. I looked around and saw that everyone there was happy. It made me think how amazing of a day that was and I was later told I referred to it as 'the best day ever!'

Caroline

My memory with BobBob was when I was in first grade he came to chapel to celebrate Veterans Day at school. We went up there together and he was the only veteran up there who fought in the Korean War. When I was up there I felt so proud of BobBob because he fought in a war. I am blessed that when he came back he was not injured. I will never forget that special day.