Bobby Ward Jennings

Bobby (Bob) Ward Jennings’ ship of life has now come to its final anchorage in a harbor of his eternal home on April 26, 2026, at the age of 96. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas to John Dorris and Mary Sikes Jennings on August 30, 1929.

He and family moved to Belton in 1941. He was a graduate of Killeen High School where he won the tennis championship his senior year. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict. He served aboard the USS Charles S. Sperry DD 697 from June 1949 to December 1951.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, he moved to Pasadena, Texas and began a 40+ year’s career with Ethyl Corporation. While employed at Ethyl, he served on the Ethyl Employees Credit Union board and various committees. He was a successful, driven man and while employed with he worked his way up from a clerk position to Superintendent of Maintenance with Ethyl Corporation. His drive to be an outstanding employee afforded him the opportunity to work in Feluy, Belgium in 1982 where Ethyl was building a plant. He started his own business in 1970 called Jennings Enterprises.

Being one for adventure, after retiring from Ethyl Corporation in 1992, he went to San Jacinto College where he received his associate’s degree and received his private and commercial pilot license. He was a deputy sheriff under Constable Jay Larkin, a published author, skydiver, men's Adult Bible Fellowship teacher, president of the USS Charles S. Sperry DD 697 Association, a carpenter, was a sports writer for the Deer Park Progress during the sixties and former president of the Pasadena Photography Club.

He realized early in life he wanted to serve the Lord and accepted him as his savior in the spring of 1943 at First Baptist Church in Belton, Texas. The two most important things in his life were his relationship with the Lord and his family. He cherished taking the love of his life, Barbara, flying on her birthday, floating the Frio River, attending his grandson’s football and baseball games, working on props and attending recitals for the dance studio where his daughters took ballet.

We will remember him as someone who always did the right thing, always kept his word, and instilled the best possible values in his children and grandchildren. When he and Barbara were not vacationing with their children or grandchildren, they would travel to Hawaii, England, Germany, Holland, France, Wales, Canada, and Belgium.

Bob finally persuaded Barbara to take a cruise after 27 years of marriage. They enjoyed attending his Navy reunions every year since 1991.

He was a member of First Baptist Church Deer Park as an active member of the Messenger Men’s Bible Class, a life-time member of the USS Charles S. Sperry DD 697 Association, Pasadena Photography Club, the Tin Can Sailor Association, the Ethyl Retirees Club, and Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Dorris and Mary Sikes Jennings, brothers, Dorris Oliver, Jerry, Joe and Carroll Jennings, sister, Ida LaNell, and daughters Elaine Jennings Horton and Tami Dunston Sills.

Survived by his devoted wife of 51 years, Barbara, and their children, Kyle Jennings (Tammy), Randall Jennings (Wendy), and Traci Williams (Mike). Grandsons, Gregory, Jonathan, Mason, Connor, and Wiley, his granddaughters Christina and Breanna, and great grandchildren Lucy, Julia, James, Henry, Audrey, Chaya, Brandon, Landon, Easton and Nolan.

Pallbearers are Gregory Jennings, Mason Williams, Connor Williams, Wiley Sills, Kyle Jennings, and Lathon King. Honorary pallbearers are great grandsons and shipmates of the USS Charles S. Sperry DD 697 Association.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 1:00 pm and a celebration of life at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, located at 438 E. 8th St, Deer Park, Texas. He will be laid to rest at Grand View Cemetery, 8501 Spencer, Pasadena, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the Renovation Fund at First Baptist Church, 438 E. 8th, Deer Park, Texas 77536.

Special thanks to church members, Frank Semmelmann and Henry Fabin, our neighbors and endless love and appreciation to Lathon King, his caregiver.

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