Robert "Bob" Andes

1930 - 2009

Robert "Bob" Andes, 79, founder of Four Corners Drilling Company and local entrepreneur, died Friday, April 10, 2009, in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. He was born April 3, 1930, in Portales, to James and Elnora Andes.
He worked hard from a young age. At 13, he was working in a radiator repair shop in Abilene, Texas. He joined the Army at age 16, and served until 1953, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. On January 19, 1949, he married Katherine Caldwell in Sonora, Texas.
Bob spent the next several years in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, working in the oil fields for Great Western and Loffland Brothers before finally settling in Farmington in 1957.
In 1973, with one rig, he founded Four Corners Drilling Company, along with his brother, Earl Lang. In the years that followed, he expanded operations, adding more rigs, and supporting businesses such as Rig Equipment and Supply, Overland Transport, Four Corners Trucking, Drilling Fluids, Inc. (DFI), Four States Casing, Valley Machine Shop and Western States Insurance Company. Bob and Earl also formed Power Tongs, Inc. and acquired Shiprock Transport. With the purchase of a fixed-based operator at Farmington Airport, they started Mesa Air Charter, which later became Mesa Airlines.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Carole Walling and her daughter, Kerry Walling; his son, James Andes and his companion, Joyce Grau; daughter, Linda Bell and husband, Eldon Bell; daughter, Glenda Loftin; four grandchildren, Valerie Andes, Jimmy Andes, Kevin Bell and Justin Bell; half-brother, Earl Lang and wife, Mary Lang; half-brother, Eugene Lang; and two half-sisters, Fern (Lang) Bostain and Jean Lang.
He will be missed.
Contributions may be made in his memory to San Juan Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Farmington, NM 87499.
Those wishing to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfamily.com
Services for Bob are with Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, (505) 325-8688.