Robert grew up with eight siblings. Five sisters, and three brothers.

Rufus and Flora packed up the kids and headed to California, but only made it to Clint, Texas, where they ran out of money and settled there. Eventually, moving to Pecos, Texas, and started a cotton farm.

Robert joined the Marines at age 17 and fought in the Korean War. After serving 4 years in the Marines, he came home and helped on the farm until he started construction, building oil refineries and chemical plants for the next 50 years before retiring a few times at age 70.

He lost his wife, Patricia, in 2023. They were married 65 years. Now, they can be together once more.

Robert is survived by one sister, Doris Gerber from Walnut Creek, California: his two children, Clayton Templeton of Tow, Texas and Dabbie Cox and her husband Louis of Bertram, Texas. He is also survived by his four Grandchildren; C.J. Templeton, Evie Gunn, Sybil Templeton, and Zachary Kilsby; and his six Great-grandchildren; Karyn Wall, Aluara Price, Elizabeth Grace Hubert, Ian J. Gatewood, Emma Jean H. Templeton, and Caleb J. Lyles.