Robert Powledge Potts' Obituary
Robert P. Potts was born April 28, 1930, in Temple, Texas, and passed away July 16, 2022, in Dallas, Texas.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, John and Tivice Potts, his brother Bill Potts, and his former wives, Juanita (Pat) Potts, Data Jo Potts and Tommie Potts.
He is survived by his daughters, Julie Potts Evatt and her husband Tracy Evatt, of Colleyville, Amy Potts Branson and her husband David Branson, also of Colleyville, and his four grandchildren, Matthew Evatt, Daniel Evatt, David Branson and his wife Kali, and Emily Branson Edwards, and her husband Ben.
Visitation will be held at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville, Dallas, Texas from 6:00-8:00 PM, Friday, July 29.
A Celebration of Life service celebrating Robert's life will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 30 at the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville, Dallas, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to your choice of Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, SPCA of Dallas, or My Possibilities of Plano.
Arrangements are being handled by Restland of Dallas, Texas. Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.restlandfuneralhome.com.
Robert P. Potts grew up in Gatesville, Texas, attended John Tarleton Agricultural College, and graduated from North Texas State University in 1950. He began his business career selling Fuller Brushes to office employees in downtown Dallas.
He was called to active duty with the United States Air Force's 443rd Troop Carrier Wing during the Korean War in 1951.
He began his store fixture career with McKesson & Robbins Drug Company in 1954, then started his own firm, Robert P. Potts & Associates in 1957. Clients included thousands of drug stores, lumber yards and other retailers across the United States for over 65 years. Notable other retail clients included Elliott's Hardware, Sharp Hardware, Turner Hardware, PetSmart and Foxworth Galbreath.
These retail clients gave him the opportunity to develop the field of store decor, or interior signage for retailers. Thus, he established Store Decor lnc Retailgraphics of Rowlett, Texas. This firm was on the cutting edge of a new industry and established a stellar reputation with major retail chains across the United States.
Bob's love for fine antique Victorian paintings from England prompted him to establish the Victorian Gallery in 1970, located on Fairmount Avenue in Dallas.
He was a past president, serving two terms, and a long-time member of the Lake Highlands Exchange Club, starting in 1968. He established the Data Jo Potts Memorial Scholarship Fund for working seniors of Lake Highlands High School. To date, over 60 seniors have received funds for their first year of school at a college of their choice. That fund is administered by the Exchange Club.
Bob was also a lifelong Free Mason, and a Hella Shriner.
Outside of his business commitments, Bob loved spending time with his family and friends at his lake home in East Texas. He held company picnics and family reunions there, and occasionally worked up the nerve to venture outside the cove on his sailboat.
Spring planting season was always quite an event, although fewer guests enjoyed planting days than his well-known "happy hours at the lake."
Bob was known in the lake community as the "no wake" guy. His home sat on the waterfront in a cove where boaters should travel slowly, creating no wake. Bob, with his loud air horn, could be heard all across the lake screaming "NO WAl
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