I met Bobby Arnett in 1976 when I started dating his daughter, Belinda. He was a man of few words but when he spoke you better listen. He reminded me a little of John Wayne. Long, tall and quite but he had a presence that commanded you attention.
Belinda told me, “You don’t want to make him mad.” I’ve heard him raise his voice but I never saw him lose his temper. I’ve been told when he went to buy a new truck, the salesman would just quiver and give him what he wanted. He taught me you have to know what you’re willing to pay and be willing to walk away.
Bobby grew up poor. He was born in Athens, TX and later moved to the projects in east Dallas. He met Mary Kline and they were married for 66 years. When he was 18, he joined the navy and was stationed in Corpus Christi where their first child, Deborah was born. They moved back to Dallas and 16 months later Belinda was born. Another 17 months and Buddy came along.
He went to work at Taylor Publishing where he rose to Manager of the covers division. He worked there for 45 years and made a comfortable living for his family settling in Carrollton.
Bobby was a savvy investor. Back in east Dallas, the Arnetts were close friends with a couple of Italian families, the Lalamias and the Barrocos. Bobby, Salvador, Henry and a few others had an investment club. They would meet about once a month, pool their money and discuss what stocks they would buy. It wasn’t a lot; I think it was more of a social club. Belinda called it their mafia meeting.
In the early 80’s Bobby was looking for some land to buy. I remember the day he came home and Mary asked him if he had found something he liked. He grinned and said, “I bought me a lake.” He would have moved there in a heartbeat but Mary didn’t want to leave the city. He loved going to the farm.
He was a child of the depression. Therefore, he had coffee cans full of every screw, bolt and nail that he ever touched. He was the hardest working man I’ve ever known. He could work circles around men half his age. He loved to go to the farm and ride on his tractor. More than once he got stuck and had to get a neighbor to pull him out of the mud.
When Buddy died in 2016, Bobby took it hard. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child.
He loved Mary. I remember going dancing at Nine Acres Country Club on their anniversary when Colleyville used to be way out in the country. They loved to go to Las Vegas in the motorhome or Winstar or Shreveport. When Mary had to go into memory care, Bobby was there every day. I know he missed her deeply when she passed in 2018.
Belinda passed away suddenly in 2019. Another heartbreak.
I take comfort in my faith and I have a vision Mary, Buddy and Belinda welcoming Bobby into heaven.
Bobby Gene Arnett, Sr. was a man’s man. I will miss him greatly.
