Robert “Bob” McGill, Sr., 78, of Bridge City, peacefully passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 1st.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Second Baptist Church, Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend Bobby Hoffpauir. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Claybar Funeral Home Bridge City.
Pallbearers will be Wesley Meeks, Tony Lute, John McDaniel, Patrick McDaniel, Waylon Sharp and Brian Piggott.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Joran Meeks, Phillip Meeks, Jason Stringer, Jeff Stringer, Joey Stringer, Josh Stringer, Jaime Stringer, Andrew Sharp, Doug Frederick, Michael Oliver and Justin Benoit.
Born in Blossom, TX on September 29, 1937, Bob was the son of James Herman McGill, Sr. and Helen (Wootten) McGill.
At the age of 18, Bob joined the U.S. Navy. He trained as an electrician serving in the western Pacific aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Saint Paul and later completed his Naval Service aboard the U.S.S. Collett.
On his return to Southeast Texas, Bob landed a job as a towboat deckhand with Sabine Towing and Transportation Co. in Port Arthur, Texas. He worked his way up to Captain’s position traveling the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. inland rivers before accepting a job ashore as a Port Engineer, and later was named Sabine’s first Port Captain. After a 39 year career with the company, Bob retired in the position of Operations Manager of the Inland Barge Division of Sabine.
Over those years, he had developed many deep and treasured friendships that he held until the end. He was a man that was respected and known for keeping his word. He was loyal to a fault, but you knew these things if you knew Bob.
He was a man of great faith that considered himself blessed to have two church families. The first being Windover Baptist Church of Jonesboro, AR where he committed his life to the Lord. He and Bobbye were members there for 10 years before their lives brought them back to Texas and to Second Baptist Church of Bridge City.
The most fortunate of all, were those of us he called family. We had the honor of knowing and sharing so many of the things this fine man had to give and we will be forever thankful for every moment and every memory.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Sheryl Sue McGill, step sister, Nancy Petty, and brothers, Billy McGill and Jim Neely.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbye McGill and their children, Robert McGill, Jr. of Bridge City, Ernest Sharp and wife Jennifer, of Silsbee, Paige Moya and husband, Jesse of Galveston, Rick McGill, Connie Meeks of Little Rock, AR., Jerry Wayne Meeks and wife Cathy, of Hamshire, Pat Meeks and wife, Angie, of Orangefield, and Carol Leone and husband, Louie, of Bridge City. He was lovingly known as “Grand Bob” to his 29 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Anita Alvarez and Guillermo Rohena of Lufkin, brothers, Ricky Prestige of Marshall, Jerry Prestige of Austin, James “Poncho” McGill, Jr. of Little Cypress, his aunt, Joyce Lyons and Jerrald Pevy of Marshall, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to Jennifer and Ebony of Century Hospice and Sarah of Altus Cancer Center.