Roll Call Tribute

Published in (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram on October 17, 2012

Robert Chester Haltom(1922 - 2012)
Robert Chester Haltom, 89, passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. He was wrapped in the arms of the Lord with his wife, Helen, and daughter, Mary, at his side at a local hospice after more than a year-long battle with cancer. The staff there served as angels on earth with their care for him and his family. Memorial service: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at his home with family and friends. Interment: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in Greenwood Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to Universal Hospice House, 5651 Bridge St., Fort Worth, Texas 76112, or a charity of choice . Born on Dec. 24, 1922, in Fort Worth to Evanda and Lillian Randle Haltom, Bob and his older brother, G.W., lived on his grandfather G.W.'s ranch in Haltom City as children. They swam in the Trinity River behind his home in Mistletoe. Bob graduated from Paschal High School where he was awarded the honor of All City Cadet Colonel as a member of ROTC. He entered Texas A&M in the fall of 1940 as a member of "H" Battery Coast Artillery. While attending A&M, he was elected to the Ross Volunteers and served as an honor guard to the Texas governor. In March 1943 his class was called to active duty. After graduation from anti-aircraft artillery school, he reported to Camp Edwards, Mass., Hdq. Bttry 135th AAA. In the spring of 1944 as a member of 162nd Order Battalion Hq. Adjutant, 869th Ordnance (HAM) Company, Ninth Army. He served in both the European and Asiatic theaters, with a 47-day troop ship trip through the Panama Canal. While in Europe he was asked to bring Amon Carter Jr. out when he was freed from prison camp, Bob often recalled how men cried as he passed out the few oranges he was carrying with him. His brother, G.W., had been killed in the invasion of Africa. In 1943, while still serving, he married Helen Rogers, and his son, G.W. III, was born while he was overseas. After the war he returned to A&M and graduated. Robert then joined the Haltom family jewelry business by designing and building the factory that made corporate jewelry and class rings for most of the schools in our area, Zales jewelry stores and even schools as far as Honduras. This had been a dream of his and his brother. He hired returning World War II veterans, training them to be jewelers in that factory. He also trained many native American Indians to work as jewelers. To this day, many area jewelers credit him with their start. He was very active with Texas Manufacturers Association and gained contacts to help advance the Haltom factory. With the eventual sale of the factory he became involved in Haltom Jewelers until its sale in 1983. During this time he also served as trustee of the G.W. Haltom trust involving commercial rental property in Haltom City. He joined his daughter, Mary Haltom, in her jewelry business as the last of the Haltom family jewelers. Robert was a 50-plus-year member of the Fort Worth Rotary Club, Julian Feild Masonic Lodge and Fort Worth Club. He was a life member of VFW. Bob served on the boards of Salvation Army and Northeast National Bank, forming a close friendship there with Byron Nelson. He was a member at River Crest Country Club and Fort Worth Boat Club and was involved with Jewel Charity Ball for many years. Bob is remembered by his friends and family for his love for family and community. He received much enjoyment from his work with MYF at Richland Hills United Methodist Church -- we all remember he and the Rev. Elmer Glazner burning all the hot dogs at a ranch hayride. His family remembers his working with George to build a really fast go-cart, building a Popular Mechanics speedboat that George could drive, teaching his daughter, Mary, to hitch a pony to their buggy and ride all over the ranch, family motor home trips over the country camping where no one else went, and watermelon eating outback of the house on summer nights, all memories that will be cherished. The lights of stars that were extinguished ages ago still reach us, and so it will be with Bobby. Survivors: Bob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Helen Haltom; his son, George Wayne Haltom and wife, Mannya Haltom; their son and his grandson, Chet Haltom; his daughter, Mary Haltom; and stepsister, Dorothy Woodson.