Bob Pettengill

Robert Lee Pettengill, 71, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2024, at home in Terrell, Texas, with his wife by his side. He was born June 24, 1952, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to the late Leland Francis and Mary Louise (O’Daniels) Pettengill. Bob graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs in 1970 and immediately entered the US Navy in the basic electronics program. In February, 1972, he was assigned to the USS Snook as an electronics tech. He returned to civilian life in 1976 and was hired by the FAA in 1977 as a radar tech. He worked in Dubuque and Cedar Falls Iowa before moving to the Oklahoma City area where he became an instructor and eventually a course manager. He retired from the FAA in 2007. Bob built his own home in Blanchard, Oklahoma. He loved woodworking and after retirement built cabinets and furniture for other people. He took great care in his work and wasn’t satisfied until each piece was perfect. Retirement also gave Bob more time for sailing on his 31foot sailboat which he kept on Lake Texoma. By 2013 he was living full-time on his boat. At this time he met his one true love, Sheryl Ann. They were married June 12, 2015 and moved the boat to Port Aransas, Texas, where they stayed until the fall of 2016. They sold the boat and bought their little cottage in Terrell, Texas. Bob decided he needed a job, so he began working at Walmart in Terrell, unloading trucks and stocking shelves. When he could no longer do that because of chemo treatments, he moved to the auto center, writing up service orders. He liked to say that was the easiest money he had ever made! Bob’s positive attitude and belief in the Golden Rule made him well-liked and respected by all who knew him. Once you became his friend, you were his friend for life. He was still in close contact with classmates from grade school and created and maintained a web site for his high school class. His ham radio contacts spanned the globe - one of his favorite places was sitting in front of his radio chatting with people halfway around the world. Bob is survived by his wife Sheryl Ann, Terrell, Texas, his son James (Adam)Pettengill, Pflugerville, Texas, Stepson Chase Yarbrough The Colony, Texas, Grandson Jayson Decker, Celina, Texas, sister Margaret (Richard)Selo, Bloomington, Indiana, Father & Mother-in-law Charles & Rebecca Busch, Terrell, Texas, Sister-in-law Debbie (Randall)Works, Frederick, Oklahoma, Brother-in-law Mike Busch, Frisco, Texas, Brother-in-law Ed (Cara) Busch, Kaufman, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life for Bob is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10, 2024 at the Max Slayton Funeral Chapel in Terrell, Texas. His family will begin receiving friends one hour prior to service time.

Tributes

Bob Pettengill

June 24, 1952 - February 25, 2024