Bobby Glen Pangle

On December 17, 2024 at 02:26am, with loving family at his side and within his DeLand, Florida home, Bobby Glen Pangle passed peacefully into God’s embrace. He is now in the company of his family and friends who there awaited. He was preceded in death by his mother Ruth Davis Buster and his aunt Vivian Davis – of Merkel Texas, his sister Glenda Pangle Haney – of Arlington Texas, and his father Jean Pangle – of El Centro California.

Born on August 4, 1936, in Merkel Texas, he was raised by his mother Ruth, his aunt Vivian, and Grandmother Hendricks. He did keep contact with his father Jean and his extended Pangle family in southern California. If you knew him, his earliest funny stories would be from Merkel, or nearby Abilene, Texas, where he attended Hardin Simmons University and met the love of his life, Gay. The length and breadth of his funny stories continued for a lifetime, as did the love of Bob and Gay! Time spent with him involved shakes of your head and chuckles, and time spent with them came with warm memories of the love clearly on display.

He earned his Bachelors in Mathematics and Chemistry at Hardin Simmons University, where he was also a member of the US Army ROTC. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve as a Second Lieutenant in 1967 after 6.5 years of service. He began his career as a geophysicist, first working with independent processing centers, before taking an opportunity with Amoco’s Data Processing group in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He went from picking first breaks on hot shot seismic crews to leading groups in Europe and US Operations. He retired from Amoco in Houston in 1995. His dedication to work and commitment to people earned him respect along with many friends within the industry. All three of his sons took similar career paths and took pride when hearing when someone within their own work mentioned knowing their dad.

He was a member of the “The World Famous” Cowboy Band at Hardin Simmons University, perhaps where a lifelong and love and commitment to music began. Knowing him meant you knew his appreciation of many types of music and art. He had a true love of the stories they portrayed. No doubt you would likely have many stories to share of artists, concerts, festivals, and traditions, which he passed your way. From the Tulsa Folk Music Society which he co-founded and organized a Woody Guthrie Festival, to the Houston Folklore and Folk Music Society and its Picking Parties and Second Saturday concert series, to Bay Area Bluegrass Association, to Winfield Kansas’ Walnut Valley Festival or Kerrville Texas’ Folk Festival…he was active and known in so many ways. Board member, concert organizer, stage builder, grill master, ticket taker, you name it, he did it. He was always a true and attentive audience member, as well, and quite often it was a family activity helping make things happen. He passed on so much with this love of music and of the gift that can be found in a song.

Bob and Gay were married, February 6, 1960. at Baptist Temple in Houston Texas. Like with music, his faith was prevalent throughout his life and in his actions. Their love of each other and of life shared together was obvious to all who met them. They renewed their vows on a trip to Hawaii, returned to that same church in the Heights to celebrate their 50th anniversary, and spent time traveling the country and the world during the years they could do so.

So many blends of extended family and friends found themselves welcome within their home including artists in town for concerts or festivals. Their door was always open, memories were always made, people were always welcome. You did not have to be family to be welcome into Bob and Gay’s hearts as families. Countless can attest to the truth of that statement, adopting them as grandparents or simply feeling the warmth generated with their generous hospitality when they opened the doors to host.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Gay – of DeLand, Florida, son Keith Pangle and his wife Cyndi – of DeLand Florida, their two sons, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren, son Curtis Pangle and his wife Annie – of Gainesville Florida along with daughter Caroline – of Nashville Tennessee, and son Glen Pangle, wife Kira – of Nashville Tennessee. He is also survived by brothers Mike, David and Ray Pangle, of California.

The family thanks the Council on Aging team, Indra, Tyresa, and Kimberly, that provided support, love, and companionship to both Bob and Gay along with the VITAS hospice caregivers that allowed the family to keep Bob at home and surrounded by family and friends.

A celebration of life will occur on January 20, with further details to come on time and place and streaming.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to organizations supporting home hospice care, or for those affected by dementia. Alternatively, share a song, find your way to a chance to truly appreciate a song, keep your door open to friends and family and cherish the moments you remember with Bobby where you find them.

The family would like to ask everyone to leave their favorite memory of Bobby so that they may get to see everyone's stories.