Robert Lester Schear

Funeral services for Robert Lester Schear are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 16, in the Chapel of Lloyd James Funeral Home, Tyler with Eddy Secrest and Lee Montgomery officiating. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Robert Lester Schear passed away on July 11, 2016 in Tyler, Texas at the age of 94.

“Bob”, was born May 26, 1922 in Whitesboro, Texas as the first child to Margaret Roberta Sadler and Lester Morrow Schear and was the brother to two younger twin sisters, Patsy Schear and Jo Schear Adams.

Bob grew up in Texas during the Great Depression graduating from high school in Henderson, Texas and then attending Texas A&M for one year before entering the Army Air Corp in WWII.

Bob married the love of his life, Margie prior to his volunteering for duty in WWII. Bob was devoted to Margie and stuck by her side through thick and thin times.

As a B-24 Liberator pilot in WWII as a member of the 15th Air Force and 461st Bomb Group, Bob defied all odds by returning home after flying 51 combat missions over Europe. Bob flew on many extremely dangerous bombing missions over Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Romania, including the famous dangerous missions over the oil field refineries at Ploesti, Romania. For his service, Bob received the European Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Bob’s lifelong career in consumer finance and banking began in Wichita Falls, Texas with Southwestern Investment Company where he continually moved up the ladder managing the district from Hobbs, New Mexico where he thrived raising his family of 4 children. Bob then moved to El Paso, Texas in charge of that district for SIC. He and Margie were planning on retiring in El Paso when Bob was recruited by Texas Commerce Bank as Senior Vice President of the Consumer Finance Division and he moved to Houston, Texas. While working for Texas Commerce Bank, the bank sent him to the University of Virginia to complete the degree he had missed out on due to WWII. Bob was one of the top consumer finance experts in the United States when he had a heart attack which resulted in his early retirement from Texas Commerce Bank.

At that time Bob and Margie retired to their retirement home, “Hilltop Farm” in Tyler, Texas. After many years the farm became too much to maintain and Bob and Margie moved to live at the Hamptons where they very much enjoyed the last years of their lives.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Roberta Sadler Schear and Lester Morrow Schear, his wife of 73 years, Margie, and his sister, Patsy Schear.

He is survived by his sister, Jo Adams, four children, daughter, Cathy Zimmerman (Jim) of Tatum; son, Larry Schear (Alice) of Dallas; daughter, Pat Florence (MJ) of Troup; daughter, Debbie Miller Montgomery (Lee) of Tyler. He is also survived by six grandsons: Phillip Zimmerman, Mike Zimmerman, Chris Miller, Tim Miller, Brad Schear, and Ben Miller; and nine great-grandchildren: Britny Zimmerman, Maddie Zimmerman, Zachary Zimmerman, Spencer Miller, Ethan Miller, Austin Miller, Tristin Miller, Huck Miller, and Jones Miller.

The family would like to give special thanks to: Dr. Gary Gross; The Heart to Heart to Staff: Sheila, Callie, Lorraine, Chaplain Eddie, Kaci B and The Hamptons Plus Care Staff: Virgie, Julia, and Robbie.

If desired memorials may be to either: Spina Bifida Association of North Texas, 810 Avenue H East, Suite 101, Arlington, Texas 76011. 972-238-8755 SPINABIFIDANT.ORG or Heart to Heart Hospice 7925 South Broadway Ave #1140 Tyler, Texas 75703.

Burial will be at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home with Full Military Honors. Pall Bearers Will Be: Phillip Zimmerman, Mike Zimmerman, Chris Miller, Tim Miller, Brad Schear and Ben Miller.