Robert B. Peacock

Robert B. Peacock of Dallas (mostly known as Bob or “Peak”) was a geophysicist, proud American patriot, loyal friend, and a loving husband, dad and granddad. He passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at age 88.

Bob was born into the oil business. His father, Dr. H.B. (“Bates”) Peacock, was a pioneer in the oil industry. He was on a seismic crew in Duncan, Oklahoma, the day Bob was born on November 19, 1931, to Bates and Helen Peacock.

Bob grew up in Houston, where he attended Kinkaid School, before attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. At CU, he earned two Bachelors of Science degrees – one in Engineering Physics and the other in Business.

On September 9, 1954, he married the love of his life, Sylvia Jane Arnold (“Sidge”), sister of his best friend and fraternity brother, H.H. (“Bud”) Arnold. Sidge and Bob began their long career with Mobil, when Bob took a geophysical job in Arkansas, working for Magnolia Petroleum Company.

He spent two years in the Army at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, serving in the 16th Armored Engineering Battalion and the 4th Armored Division.

After the Army, Bob returned to Magnolia Oil Company (which soon after became Mobil Oil), where he and Sidge moved wherever the job took them: Canadian, Perryton, Sanderson, Pecos, Midland, Ozona, and Dallas, in Texas; Woodward, Oklahoma; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York; Calgary, Canada. He served as the exploration manager for the North Sea in Stavanger, Norway, and also for the Gulf of Mexico, when they lived in New Orleans, Louisiana. Finally, he served in Djakarta, Indonesia, where Bob retired from Mobil.

Bob’s father, Bates, was a geophysicist and among the founding members of GSI (which eventually became Texas Instruments). Bates was Bob’s lifelong hero and role model, teaching him to have a strong faith in God, and to value family, honesty, and hard work. In his spare time, as a hobby, Bates was a woodworker (a skill that became Bob’s hobby, as well) and he also cut and polished agates and minerals, turning them into beautiful jewelry. He also made wooden boxes, every joint perfectly aligned, and he covered the top with his polished rocks, each fitting like intricate jigsaw pieces.

During retirement, Bob started making similar keepsake boxes, covering the tops with stones that his father had polished. Many were cherished gifts for family members and friends to fill with items that mattered the most to them.

If Bob had made a memory box for himself, inside it you’d undoubtedly find a photo of Sidge. Bob and Sidge celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on September 9, 2019.

There would be a photo of the family members, with his daughter, Kathy (of Plano, TX), and son, Bob, Jr. (of Libertyville, IL). There would also be a picture of Bob, Jr.’s family – with his wife, Becky, and their two sons, Blake and Tyler (of Charlotte, NC); and Tyler’s wife, Emily. Family meant everything to Sidge and Bob.

Bob was extremely proud of his two grandsons so, in the box, you would probably find a Special Olympics medal from Blake, his first grandson, who was born with Down syndrome; and a University of Michigan key chain from Tyler, who is now a lawyer. Bob was especially pleased that, despite Blake’s disability, he has had such a fulfilling life, with three jobs and multiple activities that keep him in great physical shape. He has been a member of the Libertyville Stars Swim Club, a Special Olympics team that Becky started twenty years ago, and has managed ever since.

In Bob’s box you would also find an American flag lapel pin. Bob was one of the most patriotic people you will ever meet, and very proud of veterans. He wore an American flag lapel pin on every suit. Perhaps you’d find a patch from his old army uniforms. He was very proud to serve in the Army and often spoke about his time at Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Hood, Texas; and maneuvers at Camp Polk in Louisiana.

You might find a seismic map in the box – something Bob could read like a book, showing the various layers of rock below the surface, or a key ring with the famous Mobil Oil Pegasus logo (the “red flying horse”), which used to prominently appear on the Dallas skyline. He thought that going to work for Mobil Oil Company was the best career decision he ever made. He and Sidge had lifelong friends from the many moves they made, and he loved the work.

There would be something in that box from the University of Colorado, too. His years in Boulder, where he served as president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity his senior year, were some of the happiest years of his life.

Life is so short, and yet Bob’s box would be overflowing with many memories of happy times with good friends from the past and new friends from his retirement years; memories from spending time in the mountains at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado; and recollections of wonderful meals, music and friends at Park Cities Club in Dallas.

In the summer of 2019, Bob completed his last wood project, just before his health started to fail. He created beautiful, handmade clocks, which he gave to family members – perhaps to be constant reminders that time is a gift and that we should treasure every moment we have on this earth. Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.” Bob valued every moment he spent with Sidge and his family, and he spent his life showing everyone how time should be spent – always doing your best, loving your family, and making a positive difference in the lives of others.

A small, private family gathering will be held for the burial at Sparkman/Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob’s memory to the Libertyville Stars Swim Club (checks payable to Libertyville High School, then put “Libertyville Stars Swim Club” on the memo line), 708 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL, 60048; or The H. H. “Bud” Arnold Memorial Scholarship at the University of Colorado Foundation, 1800 Grant Street, Suite 725, Denver, CO 80203.