William Robert "Bob" Petty

William Robert (Bob) Petty, 80, entered into eternal rest on December 3, 2024 after a long journey with dementia after having suffered a stroke in 2018.

Bob was born on November 20, 1944, in Sacramento, California to Rufus and Mary Hope Petty. He was a devoted big brother to his two younger sisters, Mary Carol and Janice. He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1963 and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1967. He married Charlene Blackburn in 1967. They were married until 1984, and together they had four children: Chris, Donald, Emily, and Natalie. There were two subsequent marriages afterward, but no children from those. He served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War from 1968-1969. Upon his return to the Houston area, he worked for his father’s CPA firm. After moving to Victoria in 1974, he owned and operated Ron’s Fried Chicken. He was also the owner of Nolan’s Restaurant, later known as Billy Bob’s Reef and Beef. He later returned to the Houston area and worked as a business broker and in the restaurant industry. For a time, he was also a commercial fisherman in the Freeport area. After retirement, he enjoyed working at the San Jacinto Monument, where he could be connected to his love for history.

Bob’s children recall his passion for all things fishing and his special Siberian Husky dogs, Duchess and Lenny. They have special memories with him that include attending Houston Astros and Houston Rockets games, countless fishing expeditions, and many camping trips. They can say with certainty that every conversation made its way back around to fishing in one way or another.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus and Mary Hope Petty and his grandparents. He is survived by his sisters: Mary Carol Lenz (Matt) of Houston and Janice Hill (Mike) of Gainesville; his four children: Chris Petty (Lora) of Austin, Donald Petty of Victoria, Emily Harrison (Miles) of Victoria, and Natalie Meador (Tim) of Victoria; his four grandchildren: Logan Meador, Grace Harrison, Emma Meador, and Zoe Harrison; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces.

A memorial service with military honors will be held at Fellowship of the Crossroads at 597 Haynes Rd. in Victoria, Tx on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 11 AM. The family will have a private military burial at a later date at the Houston National Cemetery.

If desired, donations can be made to Victoria County Veterans Council at PO Box 7382 Victoria, Tx 77903-7382. The family would also like to express their gratitude to the employees of Bethany Senior Living for the help and care given to him.

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