Robert W. "Bobby" Bighouse

1955 - 2022

Bobby passed after a short illness with Covid on 8/1/22. He lived with ALS for decades, refusing to give an inch.

He was born in Charleston, W Va., the second of six children to Bob and Janie Bighouse. He graduated from Westchester High School in 1973 and spent the rest of his years learning from the school of life. He worked in the 1980s and 1990s with adults who had developmental disabilities at New Vistas in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Santa Maria El MIrador in Alcalde, New Mexico.

His father's job moved the family around quite a bit and he developed a love of travel. Bobby's life was anything but traditional. He traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America. It was during his travels that he fell in love with the people and land of Nicarauga. He worked tirelessly to help the farmers, indigents and Sandanista's in their struggles with the rebels. He would return back to the states to earn money to return for another trip as quickly as he could. He would gather clothes, shoes, donations of any kind to bring to the people of Nicauraga. He eventually moved onto Costa Rica and found his new home. He bought some land on the mountain side with his own orchard of banana trees. He had found heaven. He loved all things outdoors, caring for his plants and being one with nature.

He called Dixon, New Mexico home when he was stateside and had a close knit community of friends that he called family. Bobby contracted ALS in his late 30s, the same illness that took his older sister. He fought it with everything he had and ALS met its match in his green smoothies, vegan diet and lifestyle. He moved to Alpine, Texas in his later years until he was no longer able to live on his own. He came back to Houston and lived a peaceful life with his father and cat Rojo. Bobby lived life on his terms. He was a kind and gentle soul. He enjoyed hiking in the mountains and living a simple life close to the land. He advocated for living life humanely and sustainably. Bob's family, friends and neighbors were enriched by having him in their lives.

"Once a hippie, always a hippie!"



He is survived by his father, Robert L. Bighouse; sister Julie Bighouse; spouse Linda J. Mangold; brother William J. Bighouse, spouse Gail Bighouse; multiple nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother Elizabeth Jane Bighouse, brother James Patrick Bighouse, sister Beth A. Geiger and sister Joan Marie Burleson.

A funeral mass will be held on September 3, 2022 at 10AM at the Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church, Katy Texas.

The family requests that donations be made in Bob's honor to the ALS Association (alstexas.org, als.org).