Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Fain

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Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Fain
Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Fain

(October 19, 1936—August 6, 2016)

Robert Charles ‘Bob’ Fain, 79 of Stephenville, died Saturday, August 6, 2016, in Austin.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, August 13th at First Baptist Church with Dr. Van Christian officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM Saturday at Llano Cemetery in Llano. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday at Stephenville Funeral Home.

Bob was born on October 19, 1936 in Santa Rosa, Texas to the late Horace Edgar and Ruth Irene Carroll Fain, the fifth of seven children. He married Patricia Ann Todd on August 23, 1958 in San Marcos. Bob grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, lived several years in Llano, and graduated from Llano High School. He worked his way through Southwest Texas State and received his BS degree in Chemistry in 1958, his MS degree in 1959, and went on to the University of Texas where he received his PhD in Chemistry in 1965. He came to Tarleton in 1966 and taught Chemistry for several years. He served as the head of the Chemistry Department for several years and later served as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Bob also served Tarleton State University as Provost for 19 years under three different presidents. He was particularly proud of helping establish the nursing program at Tarleton, along with helping construct numerous buildings on campus.

Bob was very active in the community. In 1966 he help charter the Stephenville Optimist Club, serving as President 1972-1973, and later as Secretary/Treasurer, a position he held until his death, for over 45 years. Bob was active in Retired Teacher’s Assn., and served as a Board of Director for Town and Country Bank for many years. While employed at Tarleton State University he served on numerous committees and positions. Bob served as Deacon at First Baptist Church, and had served his church in a number of ways in committees and church roles. He and his wife Pat have lived in Stephenville for the past 50 years.

Having grown up poor by today’s standards following the Depression, Bob recognized the value of an education. He often spoke of how he benefited from encouragement at key points in his life, and he sought to encourage others in the same way – through Optimists and church, through supporting the bond program to build new elementary schools in Stephenville and by establishing a scholarship at Tarleton.

Through it all, Bob enjoyed life with family and friends. Whether traveling with his wife, spending time at the lake with grandchildren, working bees with his brothers in the family honey business, giving presentations at Optimist Club, camping or snow skiing with family and friends, or playing bridge, he lived life enthusiastically. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia; son, James Robert and wife Lisa Fain of Stillwater, OK; daughter, Cheryl and husband James Yager of Buda; grandchildren, Jonathan and Logan Fain, and Emily Yager; brother, Dewey and wife Erwinna Fain of Llano; sisters, June Fowler of New Braunfels, and Sharon and husband Sammy Offer of Kingsland; sisters-in-law, Frances Fain and Anna Beth Fain of Llano; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Alan and Jane Todd; double first cousins, Neiland and Sherry Fain of Llano; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Bob was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Sarah Yager; brothers, Earl Fain and Tom Fain; sister and brother-in-law Margie and Ed Patterson, and brother-in-law Jack Fowler

The Fain family wishes expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Robert C. and Patricia A. Fain Math and Chemistry Teaching Endowed Scholarship, P. O. Box 0260, Stephenville, Texas 76402, or to the First Baptist Church, 334 West Green, Stephenville, Texas 76401

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