Robert William Stoddard

Robert “Bob” William Stoddard, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at N. Cypress Medical Center after a brief illness.  Bob was born on May 13, 1933 in Bloomington, Illinois to Charles and Elsie Stoddard.   At age 3 he was placed in the Baby Fold in Normal, Illinois, then later in the Salem Children’s Home in Pontiac, Illinois, and then with a foster family through high school. This foster family, Doyle and Betty Jane Garlock, became like family.  They were the kind of people who make such an impact on your life that you can never fully repay.

Bob graduated from the University of Illinois.  During his sophomore year he attended a Southern Baptist State Student Convention where he heard Dr. Kearne Keegan’s doctrinal teaching sessions.   Dr.  Keegan also played and sang “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses…”.  That is when he decided there was something to religion and he accepted Christ as his savior.

In 1955 Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps and received orders for Germany.  The day before leaving for Germany, those orders were rescinded and he was sent to Loring AFB, Maine.  This was certainly God’s hand working in his life, because it was in northern Maine that he met the love of his life, Katharyn Hope Thompson.  They married on June 14, 1958 and celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 14, 2018.  After his 2-year tour of duty was over, he was honorably discharged and entered civilian life.  He worked in the Federal Civil Service for the U.S. Air Force for the rest of his career, retiring on November 30, 1990.

Bob joined the Gideons International organization circa 1966.  Bob would stay an active member of the Gideons until his death helping with scripture disbursement and placement.  He was very proud of the Gideons and their purpose of placing bibles where souls in need would find them.

In 2003, Bob and Kathy moved to Jersey Village, Texas, to live near their daughter, Shari Stone, and her family.   Bob loved and admired all his grandchildren and wished he could live near each of them.  Bob was most happy when surrounded by family and he and Kathy cherished every trip family members made to Houston over the years.

Bob had a hard start in life and faced many challenges, but his faith in God and love for Jesus shaped him as an honorable, faithful, kind and generous man.  He always said God’s path for him helped him survive.  God led him to his cherished wife, Kathy, and with her, he finally had the family unit for which he longed.  Bob will be remembered for his faith in God, love of his family, ability to see something positive in all situations, and joy in helping others.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Katharyn;

his children                                           his grandchildren                                                    his great grandchildren

Robert  (Heather Sotomayer),              Julie (Joe), Michelle (Tyler), David (Li Qiong)        Cali, Jett

Shari  (Larry Stone)                               Joe (Kirsten), Chris, Mike

Wendy (Cliff Becker)                              Jonathan, David, Kimberly, Elizabeth, Rachel

Jennifer (Charles Kislowski)

Ginger Stoddard                                     Ryan Cooper

his brother Arthur Stoddard, his sister Doris Cropp and many other nephews and nieces.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Charles & Elsie Stoddard, his sisters Evelyn Center, Virginia Moore, and Marjorie Richards.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 6, 2018 at 11:00am at Champion Forest Baptist Church/Jersey Village, 16518 Jersey Drive, Jersey Village, TX  77040.  Rev. George Moore officiating.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gideons International.

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