Robert Goodsell Billings, Jr.

Robert, "Bob" to many and "Bobby" to his family, Billings was the coolest, smartest, most enigmatic man we ever knew. He was a renegade and a rebel in the best possible way. Intelligence and imagination were his gifts and science was his lifelong passion.

Robert graduated from Ames High School in Ames, Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Iowa in 1966.

In the late 1960's, Bob became fascinated with what were to become modern computers. He took an early computer science course at the University of Chicago, and quickly found his life calling, working in Information Technology. In the 1980's he became an entrepreneur, opening his first business, Automation Management, Inc. Bob included a cat in his company logo, in honor of his family's love of animals and particularly, cats. He later opened Rainbow Software, Inc., and loved his work every day, making cool and innovative stuff happen with computers. As his daughter was growing up, he would often bring home and enthusiastically demonstrate the latest model of the latest CPU or processor..

Purring cats always surrounding him, Bob loved to read, especially science and science fiction, and had thousands of books in his library. And after moving from Houston to Phoenix in 2003, he loved to spend time hiking and golfing in his beloved desert.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Darien LaPlant Billings, his first wife Ann Billings Day, and his parents, Robert G. Billings, Sr. and Margaret Thornton Smith Billings.

He is survived by his daughter, Robin Billings Lanier, her husband, Kevin Lanier, and three grandchildren: Brennan Lanier, Sophia Lanier, and Elise Lanier. He is also survived by his four siblings, Margaret Billings Hassett, James Billings, Toni Billings Houghton, and Mary Billings, their partners, six nieces and nephews, and six grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Arizona Humane Society, a cause near and dear to Robert's heart at the following link: Donate - Arizona Humane Society.