Roll Call Tribute

Robert Philip Gottlich, Col. USMC (Ret) 

April 2, 1925 - October 30, 2025 

Robert Philip Gottlich, 100, of Boerne, Texas, passed away peacefully the morning of October 30, 2025. Known to everyone by his nickname "Bink," he was a member of America's greatest generation, retiring from the Marine Corps with the rank of Colonel; a successful businessman and Vice-President of Church's Fried Chicken; a loyal Texas Aggie; an avid hunter and fisherman; an accomplished builder, especially doing rock work; a lover of animals; and a God-fearing, caring, and supportive family man and friend whose presence will be missed.

Bink was born on April 2, 1925, in Panama City, Panama, to Sam and Ruth Gottlich while Sam was serving as a meteorologist for the Panama Canal. The family soon moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where Bink grew up, graduating from Corpus Christi High School and going on to attend Texas A&M as a member of the class of 1946. As many did during that time, Bink chose to join the military and entered the Navy's V12 commissioning program. Due to his young age, he was assigned to attend Arkansas A&M for a short time before receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Following officer training, Bink was stationed in Guam in preparation for the invasion of Japan in 1945. After VJ Day, he was ordered to China with the First Marine Division and subsequently returned to Camp Pendleton at the completion of his tour. In 1950, Bink was sent to Korea, where he was a weapons company commander during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the defense of the Port of Hungnam during the UN troop evacuation. Upon his return from Korea, he was assigned as the commander of the security detachment at NAS Kingsville and then was sent to Fallon, Nevada, where he established a survival school for the Marine Corps. During this assignment, he was awarded a Bronze Star for efforts in managing an emergency aircraft event at NAS Fallon.

Bink came off of active duty and returned to Texas, where he began working for his father at South Texas Wholesale Company in Corpus Christi. During this time, he was introduced to Carole Jones, and they married in November 1953. They quickly settled into family life with the ever-present Boxer dog our family seemed to always have in our midst. Over the next six years they had four children - Rob, Peggy, Matt, and Todd. Their life took them to Austin for a short time for pharmacy school, then out to Fort Stockton and back to Austin, where Bink sold pharmaceuticals with the San Antonio Drug Company. 1967 brought a move to San Antonio and a new career with Church's Fried Chicken, eventually taking the family to Sydney, Australia, and Bink starting Church's Fried Chicken in Australia. A few years later, the family moved back to San Antonio and then to Atlanta, where Bink retired from Church's as Vice President of Operations after more than 20 years with the company.

Retirement took Bink and Carole back to the Texas hill country and Kerrville, Texas. Here, Bink began a new venture raising exotic wildlife and being a grandfather to all of the grandchildren who were coming on the scene. During this time, he and Carole travelled the world, and after a few years back in Atlanta and life on Lake Lanier, they settled back in Round Top, Texas. They continued to travel, built a house where Bink did all of the rock work during construction, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family. During this time, Carole was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2006 after 52 magical years of a blessed life with Bink.

Bink eventually moved to Hunt, Texas, spending the next few years continuing his travels. He managed to visit every continent on earth, doing wilderness survival treks, as well as hunting and fishing trips, and developed an affinity for his trips to Ketchikan, Alaska, for halibut and salmon fishing at Sportsman's Cove Lodge. It was during this time that Bink was blessed to meet Glenda Simons, and, after about a year of dating, they married in 2009.

Bink and Glenda stayed active, travelling the world, visiting family, watching grandkids play sports, graduate school, and get married - and, of course, he continued his summer fishing trips to Alaska. Bink's energy, stamina, and love of life were extraordinary, and he was privileged to have celebrated his 100th birthday with a large gathering of family and friends. All who knew him will miss his presence in their lives, none more so than his loving wife, Glenda. She stood by him in life’s joyful moments and cared for him in his recovery from the challenges he faced his last few years. She was an angel in his life whom he loved and cherished deeply. Despite Bink’s many accomplishments and long life, his greatest feat was raising his family, seeing all of his grandchildren start successful lives, and setting the example of a good Christian life with a strong belief in the saving grace of Jesus.

Bink is survived by his wife Glenda, his children, Rob (and wife Tanya) Gottlich, Peg (and husband Rick) Wright, Matt (and wife Joni) Gottlich, Todd (and wife Sarita) Gottlich, twelve grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Carole; parents, Sam and Ruth; and siblings, Barbara, Sammy, and Jimmy.

A graveside service to honor the life of Bink Gottlich will be held Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations in Bink's name to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.