Robert Henry Renfrow was born on January 24, 1933, in Brownsville, Texas. He was son of farmer John Renfrow and mother Theoda. He had two younger siblings, brother Roy Renfrow and sister Billie Renfrow Loop. Robert, or Bob as he was known, attended El Jardin High School where he was an avid athlete and popular student. After graduating high school in 1950, Bob joined the US Navy in 1951 serving through the Korean conflict until 1955.
After the Navy, Bob attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood. A devout Christian, Bob was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he met Janet Shelton. They were married in 1957. At Howard Payne Bob was a popular student a member of the student organization Jackets for Jesus and an athlete. He was a successful winning amateur welterweight boxer and golden gloves champion. Bob graduated from Howard Payne with a degree in physical education and history later earning a master’s degree in education. Bob and Janet have two children, daughter April Renfrow Gheen and son Robert Shelton Renfrow.
Bob taught at several high schools in Texas, coaching football, basketball, track, soccer and teaching history and government. He had many successful sports teams, athletes and winning programs, including an undefeated championship football team in Sheridan Texas. After a year of teaching high school with the Department of Defense in the Azores, Portugal they moved to Friendswood, Texas. In his 19 years at Friendswood, Bob taught history and government and established the first public school soccer program. With an interest in the importance of being involved in government Bob attended courses at the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge Virginia and was a sponsor for the ‘Close Up’ program where he took students to Washington DC for a closer look at the workings of our government. In 1989 Bob and Janet moved to Giessen, Germany teaching high school for the Department of Defense. With an active interest in history, Bob was witness to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Bob retired from full time teaching in Texas in 1989. From 1958 to 1991 Bob had taught and coached at Rio Hondo, Texas, Wallis, Texas, Dickinson Texas, Hitchcock, Texas, Sheridan, Texas, Azores Portugal, Friendswood, Texas, and Giessen, Germany. He was adored by students, athletes and peers for his passion and inspiration as well as his friendly nature and uproarious sense of humor. After retirement Bob and Janet settled in Brownwood. Bob coached soccer a bit at Howard Payne University and continued to substitute teach at Brownwood High School until he was 80 years old. He was a dedicated and faithful member of Coggin Baptist Church in Brownwood. Bob passed on August 2, 2023 after a prolonged illness. He was surrounded by his immediate family.
Bob is survived by his loving wife Janet, daughter April Gheen and husband Mark, one only grandson Jordan Gheen, son Robert Renfrow, sister Billie Loop, many cousins, nephews, and nieces, and many, many adoring and appreciative students, athletes, cohorts and friends.
Funeral services for Bob will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, August 7, 2023, at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon at the funeral home from 4:00 until 6:00.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Renfrow family at heartlandfuneralhome.com