Robert Arnold "Bob" Meinhart

Robert (Bob) Arnold Meinhart was born on June 28, 1927 in Houston, Texas to parents Otto and Hilda (Timme) Meinhart. He passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, which also was his mother’s birthday.  Bob attended Roosevelt Elementary School, Burbank Junior High and Cypress Fairbanks High School.  He worked at many jobs including Houston Light and Power Company.  Then he joined the U.S. Navy and served from June 1945 until July 1946.  He came home and went to work as a lineman for Southwestern Bell Telephone and then a PBX installer where he helped install all the equipment at Houston Intercontinental Airport.  He retired from Southwestern Bell after 34 years of service.  He was married to Erlene Waak, his childhood friend, on the 5th of June, 1948.  They had three daughters:  Laura Fay, Carolyn Ann and Kathy Marie.  They lived in Houston until 1982.  Then they moved to Bellville, Texas on a farm.  They did custom hay baling and raised Black Angus cattle.  Bob also loved to hunt and fish and be with his family.  He was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge and a Past Master of the Bellville Lodge.  He was an Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Farm Bureau and the Sheriff's Association.   Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sylvia Fitzgerald; his daughter, Laura Fay Voelkle; his great-granddaughter, Isabella Hanks; and brother-in-law, Calvin Waak. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Erlene Meinhart; daughters Carolyn Smith and husband, Preston; Kathy Bumguardner and husband, Britt; son-in-law, James Voelkle and sister-in-law: Ruby Waak; and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; two nieces and their husbands; one nephew and his wife.