Bob Plunkett

A celebration of the life of Bob Rondal Plunkett, 82, Tyler will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Marvin Methodist Church. Burial will be a private family ceremony at Mason Cemetery in Arp, Texas. Mr. Plunkett passed away on May 24, 2024, with his wife and family by his side. He was born on June 11, 1941, in Jacksonville, Texas, and grew up in Overton. His family later moved to west Texas, and he attended Monterey High School in Lubbock where he met his wife Judy. He then attended Texas Tech University. While at Tech, he was active in the ROTC and earned a BA in Business Administration. He spent the rest of his life as a die-hard Red Raider. Bob served in several managerial roles before finding his professional home at the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind. He was passionate about serving the visually impaired in a way that helped them become independent and able to support their families. In his 25 years as the President and CEO, he not only grew the facility to include larger factory and office space, but even added the Bill Judson Rehabilitation Center that made it possible to train and prepare the workers to be independent. Bob was a giant in his field, serving in several leadership positions at the national level, and grew his organization to be one of the most successful in the industry. He achieved this by setting a vision, taking risks, and adhering to a set of principles centered around honesty, fairness, and hard work. He was an innovator before innovation became a buzzword. His final challenge was to make it possible for Lighthouse products to be sold in base stores at U.S. military bases in Texas. Many said it could not be done, but through his remarkable ability to build relationships, through his tenacity and shrewd business savvy, he left the Lighthouse in a position to be financially successful for years to come. Upon his retirement, two flags were flown over both the Texas and the U.S. Capitols in his honor on July 4, 2006, in recognition of his 35 years of tireless service to the blind and visually impaired. Bob loved Texas. He was a fifth-generation Texan with ancestors who fought for Texas’ Independence at the Battle of San Jacinto. He was a member of the Descendants of San Jacinto, a Son of the Republic of Texas, and received an honorary title of Admiral of the Texas Navy. He loved learning and reading about the period when Texas was a Republic. He was an avid outdoorsman and was passionate about preserving the wildlife of Texas. He was a certified angler instructor with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and loved teaching young boys and girls to fish. Mr. Plunkett and his wife have been members of Marvin Methodist Church since moving to Tyler 10 years ago. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Bob and Helen Plunkett, Tyler, and his brother, William Boyd Plunkett. He is survived and missed by his wife of 62 years, Judy, his son and daughter-in-law Joe and Reyna Plunkett, Broken Arrow, OK; his daughter Brandi Lyn Plunkett, College Station; grandchildren Brianne and Theron Pena, Danielle Gonzales, great-grandson Shiloh Noel Pena and several cousins, nieces, and nephews whom he loved. The Plunkett Family extends deep appreciation for the services of MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Dr. Timothy Newhook and his staff, the nurses and staff of Meadow Lake Senior Living Center, and the staff of Three Oaks Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be sent to Marvin Methodist Church (300 W. Irwin, Tyler, TX 75701) or to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (2914 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204).

Bob Plunkett

June 11, 1941 - May 24, 2024