Robert Dean Pfeifer, Sr.'s Obituary
Robert Dean Pfeifer Sr. passed away in his home on December 17, 2019 in Dallas Texas. He was born David Burnell Graham in Dallas on October 7, 1936 and adopted several days later by Paul and Mildred Pfeifer. He grew up in Austin Texas with one older brother, Bill. After graduating from Austin High School he attended The University of Texas for 2 years before leaving to join his brother to enlist in the U.S. Marines. During boot camp he became interested in flying and made the decision to pursue life as a Naval Aviator. Pre-flight in Pensacola and then on to Corpus Christi to get his wings, meeting and marrying Ann Heth, his wife of 30 years, along the way. The next 22 years were spent in education, training and flying off aircraft carriers around the U.S., Europe and East Asia. This time included multiple cruises to support our country in the tumultuous Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of Commander and his flight accomplishments are too long to list. In 1976 he transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to work in Intelligence of the Pacific and began his love affair with long distance running. His last tours of duty were with recruiting in Dallas and New Orleans where he no doubt convinced many men and women to join what he loved to call “The World’s Greatest Navy”.
After retiring in 1981 he found a second career in Dallas with Dr. Pepper and threw his energy into helping grow that company through recruiting in the HR department. He met many new friends at Dr. Pepper that would be his people to golf, travel, and go out to eat with after he retired for good.
It was during this time that he began to research and seek out his biological family. This included frequent trips to Oklahoma to County Courthouses and cemeteries and notices in local newspapers. It was one such notice that eventually came to the attention of the Graham family in Irving Texas. After more than five decades Bob was united with 3 uncles, 2 aunts, several cousins and one very special, loving Grandmother Ella. Sadly his birth mother had already passed away 10 years after she gave birth to Bob. This family embraced him immediately and so began relationships for the next 30 years.
Bob was a committed member of Highland Park United Methodist Church where he served as an usher at the 8:30 service for over 20 years. He loved (in no particular order) the Texas Longhorns, running, anything U.S. Navy, Blue Bell ice cream, open carry laws, The Product (Dr. Pepper), a good cabernet, golf, an occasional cigar and The United States of America.
He is survived by his three daughters Jennifer Flodstrom and husband Keith, Carol Stewart and husband Ron and Gwen Pfeifer and his son Bob “Beto” Pfeifer and wife Tiffany. His six FANtastic grandchildren: Natalie, Phoebe and Claire Stewart, Denton, Hunter Ann and Luke Pfeifer. He is also survived by his very long-term companion and year-long caregiver, Pat Ayers.
Bob will be buried at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Memorials may be made to The Tailhook Educational Foundation at Tailhook.net or The Salvation Army.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Saturday, December 21, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2019, at 11:00 AM in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements for Mr. Robert Dean Pfeifer, Sr. have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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