Bob Harbert

Bobby (Bob) Corrin Harbert of Edge, TX went to be with his Lord on Monday, August 23. The Lord graciously allowed him to pass away peacefully at his home. He was 92.

Bob was born on November 1, 1928, in Mountain View, Missouri to Russell Frank and Mildred (Corrin) Harbert. In addition to being a practicing engineer (TXPE/OKPE), Bob was a man with many talents and a wide variety of interests including: pilot (Cessna 172 and Civil Air Patrol), farmer (100 acres), photographer, mechanic (auto/farm equipment), machinist, welder, electrician, boat maker, amateur archeologist, ham radio operator (K5BVA), hunter, fisherman, tinkerer, artist, jewelry maker, craftsman, carpenter, LL baseball coach, musician (organ, recorder, and dobro), prankster, and 2x genius kit winner.

After high school (Durant, OK), Bob enlisted in the Army and progressed to the rank of Tec 5 before his honorable discharge. With the help of the GI bill he completed a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma A&M University in 3-1/2 years; graduating in 1951. During his college years, Bob met the love of his life, Reba Eulene Pierce of Tom, OK. After a brief 6-month engagement, they were married in Idabel, OK on December 26, 1948. They were married for 65 years, until the passing away of Reba on December 15, 2013.

Bob's professional career began at GM (Diesel Division) working in the diesel engine test lab. After several years, he took a position at Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, OK where he began work on solid propellants used in the early years of the space industry. Soon after, he was offered a position to work at North American Aviation, Rocketdyne Div. in 1959 at McGregor, TX. During his 16 years at Rocketdyne, one of his primary contributions was the measurement of strain in solid propellant rocket motors used in the Minute Man missile. He also contributed to the development of solid propellant motors used in ullage rockets (used on the second stage of the Saturn V moon rocket for the Apollo program). He completed his work career with 14 years of employment in the Civil Engineering Department at Texas A&M University as the lab supervisor of the McNew Lab. During his employment at TAMU, he and Reba started Photo/Tech providing overnight processing of color slides and black/white photographs.

Bob was brought up in a family of faith, but he did not make a personal commitment to the Lord until he was 18 years old. Departing from Seattle, WA to start his service in the Army, he was approached by a local teenager who engaged him in a conversation about his relationship with Jesus Christ. As a result of that conversation, Bob prayed to receive Jesus as Savior and committed his life to Him as his Lord. That night initiated a lifelong journey whereby he demonstrated his love for the Lord in is service to the church, his love and faithfulness to his wife, and his commitment to his sons. He was a man of Scripture and prayer. He loved to serve the church as a Bible study teacher and as a deacon. He and Reba were faithful members of the Reliance Baptist church for over 30 years. They especially enjoyed the visitation of prospective members. In all, he had over 50 years of teaching and service to his Lord.

Perhaps the greatest gift that he provided to his sons was his demonstration of how a husband is to love his wife sacrificially. This was evidenced in the last three years of Reba's life where he cared for her 24 hours a day, without a day off. He loved selflessly and completely. With humility he performed many unseen acts of service in her care.

The family is eternally thankful for his witness of the Lord's faithfulness and how he demonstrated for them how to be a true man of faith and Christian.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Reba, his parents, his brother Russell Harbert, and sister Charlotte (Harbert) Wise, and He and Reba’s infant son, Charles Russell Harbert.

He is survived by his sons: Roger Corrin Harbert (wife Lisa) and Stuart John Harbert (wife Tamara); his grandchildren: Ryan Corrin Harbert, Lance Eric Harbert, Ross Christian Harbert, Addie Sue Harbert, Turner Pierce Harbert, great grandchild, Brian Pierce Harbert, and nieces Debbie Harbert Fresh and Donna Harbert Farmer. A memorial service will be held at Reliance Baptist Church, 6925 Reliance Church Road, Bryan, TX, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 2nd. Pastor Ray Marshall will be officiating. Consistent with one of Bob's favorite church activities, a dessert fellowship will follow.

A celebration of life graveside service will be held September 3, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tom Cemetery in the Tom Community near Haworth, Oklahoma. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Reliance Baptist Church 6925 Reliance Church Rd, Bryan, TX 77808 · (979) 589-3081

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