R.H. "Bob" Putz

June 14, 1938 - January 8, 2017

Robert Henry "Bob" Putz '60 was peacefully taken by his Savior early in the morning of January 8, 2017 at Generations Senior Living Center with his wife and adult children at his side. He was 78 years old. Born June 14, 1938 in Bryan to Frances Martin Putz and Robert Antone Putz. He was the first of twins, with his brother Richard E. Putz born minutes later, and another brother Gary D. Putz some years later.

Bob was raised in Mission, Texas, where his dad owned an agricutural aviation business and began teaching him to fly at age 12. His love of aviation kept him in the family business where he, along with his dad and brothers, owned and operated a location serving the Rio Grande Valley and another in the Brazos Bottom, out of Hearne. The summit of his career may have been serving as President of the Texas Agricultural Aviation Association in 1979.

After graduating from Mission High School, Bob took his trombone talent to the Agricutural and Mechanical College of Texas, where he was the first of three generations of Aggie Bandsmen. Before his junior year, he met Marilyn Tippitt on a blind date, and they were soon married on July 31, 1958 in Pharr, Texas. They lived in the infamous campus married housing his senior year on a meager budget. At the end of it, he graduated with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering.

Their marriage brought them two children, Robert Henry "Rob" Putz Jr. and Marcia Lynn Putz. While he enjoyed his career crop-dusting, he was also a man who loved spending time with his family and friends. The children were raised in Mission, however they kept a home in Hearne where he spent every summer spraying cotton. The result of this was an accumulation of friends and experiences from both communities. There were Saturday nights in Reynosa, Mexico during the school year and parties in Booger County in the Summer. Along the way there were vacations with many of these friends to A&M football games and P&M Bank Travel trips to Europe.

Creating some of the happiest years of his life, Bob taught his children to have strong Christ-centered marriages and was gifted with four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Many of his joyful moments were spent capturing all their activities with his camera.

Bob was a lifelong Methodist, descending from an original circuit rider who founded Grace United Methodist Church in Hearne. He served in various leadership capacities there and later in First United Methodist of Bryan modeling Christian faith and service. The last few years of his life Bob lost his ability to speak, but not his ability to show love for his fellow man. The caregivers of Generations Senior Living Center reflected that back to him in his final days. The family is grateful to those loving people who gave him comfort in his final earthly days.

Bob is preceeded in death by his brother, Richard E Putz. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life for 59 years, Marilyn Tippit Putz, his brother and sister-in law, Gary D. Putz and Katy, and his sister-in-law Mary Brady Putz. He is also survived by his children, son Robert H Putz Jr. and daughter-in-law Rhonda Redus Putz, daughter Marcia Putz Godfrey and son-in-law David H Godfrey. Bob will be so missed by his grandchildren, Kristin Godfrey Baird (husband Frank Baird), Bobby Putz, Jennifer Putz, and Tyler Godfrey as well as his first great grandchild, Hunter Baird.

Visitation will be at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan on Tuesday, January 10 from 5:00-7:00pm. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, January 11th at First United Methodist Church in Bryan, Rev Rick Sitton officating, with a reception immediately following. There will be a private graveside service at College Station Cemetary at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to Grace United Church, 408 S Magnolia St, Hearne, TX 77859 or to one's charity of choice.

Please share your favorite memories of Bob at www.hillierfuneralhome.com.