Robert Bartley

Robert “Bob” Bartley, 86 years old, died Wednesday night, May 1, 2019. He was the youngest of four children born to Colonel Wannie Lee and Alice Burnside Bartley. The story goes that his father was in charge of building the hospital at Ft. Bragg, N.C. and finished the maternity ward three days before Bob was born 13 October 1932.
He graduated from Paschal High School in Ft. Worth in 1950 and entered Auburn University, as a wrestler. In 1952, he enlisted in the Army during the Korean War. During the last half of the 2 ½ years he was in Germany, Bob was a member of the Highway Patrol, a unit of the Military Police, which existed only in Germany for a period of time.
Upon his return to Texas in 1955, he enrolled in NTSC (University of North Texas) and graduated with a BS in Business in January 1958. During his stay at North Texas, he lived in the Canterbury House; the Episcopal College Center with a number of men, most of whom were veterans. This was where he met Edith Annette Swann, who was attending TSCW (Texas Woman’s University).
Bob always told the story that just before Christmas break in 1956, Edith came out of the Canterbury House Chapel and tripped and fell. To quote him “I caught her in my arms and have been holding her ever since”. Their first date was January, 1957. On June 7, 1958, they married at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Denton, Texas.
They lived in Houston from 1958 to 1960. In July of 1960, Bob’s company transferred him to Fort Worth. By 1962, the family had moved to North Richland Hills.
Bob became involved with the Boy Scouts as an adult volunteer working with several BS units including the ones his sons, Malcolm and Raymond were members. He was so proud of both boys receiving the Eagle Scout Award. He was a member of the Brotherhood of the Arrow and earned his Wood Badge.
In the early 1970’s, Bob took his avocation and made it his vocation when he returned to UNT to receive his certification in elementary and secondary education. He was excited about teaching elementary. He taught in the Birdville ISD and was credited with 20 years’ service. He loved the years he taught and would refer to that period as one of the happy times.
In 1972, Bob and Edith were asked by 5 young people to become Advisors of the first Co-ed High Adventure Explorer Post in the Longhorn Council - Post 505. Several trips were made to Philmont, a canoeing trip to the Land Between the Lakes, and three sailing trips; one off the coast of the Florida Keys and two on sailing yachts to the Bahamas. The Post was responsible for sailing the ship (with the crew’s help) and all other activities involved on the ship. On the last trip Bob received his open water scuba certification, which he was very happy to achieve.
In 1993, they bought their first RV and began 20 years of traveling around the United States, from coast to coast. They belonged to Escapees RV Club, Red River Escapees, Kountry Lone Star Newmar Club and FMCA. One of their most memorable trips was to Canada going to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.
One very special place to travel began in the summer of 1998 when with Edith’s sister and brother-in-law they went to Mayhill, NM. They stayed in a wonderful place called Rio Penasco RV Park. They stayed there for 15 summers and made so many wonderful friends especially the owners. Their travel days stopped when he developed End Stage Renal Disease and had to go on dialysis in December 2013.
Bob enjoyed the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra I Irving, Texas, and served on the Board of Directors for a number of years.
For 15 years, Bob volunteered at North Hills Hospital in North Richland Hills.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Col. Wannie Lee and Alice Bartley, his two sisters, Patricia Bartley Rawlins, Alice Bartley Fauver Gaston, and his brother, Samuel “Bud” Bartley, and his son John Bartley.
He is survived by his wife, Edith Swann Bartley, of almost 61 years; sons, Malcolm Bartley of North Richland Hills and Raymond Bartley and wife Carol of Conroe, TX. Six grandchildren, Ben Bartley and wife, Monica, of Wylie, TX, Adam Bartley of Dallas, Joey Bartley and wife Nicole of Spring, TX, Alanna Bartley Kinzer and husband, Michael, of Pearland, TX, Catherine Bartley of Euless, and David Bartley of Euless. Three great-grandsons, Jason and Zeke Bartley of Wylie, TX and Tiberius Bartley of Spring, TX and one great-granddaughter, Terra of Spring, TX. Numerous Nieces and Nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Keller, Texas, American Heart Association, or to a kidney foundation.