Obituary of Robert Anthony Roden

Robert Anthony Roden passed quietly on January 4, 2023, with supportive family nearby.

Bob lived a long and varied life. He is survived by his children, Mary Beth, Chris, and Tom; and four grandchildren.

Robert Anthony Roden was born on June 17, 1935, in Hennepin County, Minnesota to Lillian Helena Rolle and Herman Anthony Roden, the youngest of three children.

Bob graduated from Cretin HS, Class of ‘53. In ‘57 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from St Mary's college in Winona, Minnesota before completing a two-year stint in the army.

Bob and his first wife Margaret had three children, and raised them navigating the many currents that buffeted American society of the 60s and 70s. They marched for civil rights, volunteered for organizations such as the Catholic Interracial Council, and wrote for organizational newsletters.

In the early 70s, Bob was fired from Honeywell for whistleblowing and investigated for his activism. He refused to take this as a loss and instead, returned to school for an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Skilled in marketing and statistical analysis, Bob went on to have a productive career at 3M, Rubbermaid, and Pennzoil.

Bob lived in Houston for about thirty years with his second wife, Joan. They spent many happy years both working and in retirement, enjoying traveling to visit their children and grandchildren, and visits to various festivals. They loved their adopted state of Texas, in spite of the occasional hurricane. Sadly, Joan was taken from him by a sudden illness.

Most recently, Bob resided in a memory care facility in Pensacola, FL. He made new friends and entertained the staff with his still-clever (often bawdy) wit and positive, stoic attitude. Mary Beth would regularly take him to the Goat Lips Tavern, where he quickly became a beloved fixture. It is said some of his ashes grace the path he once trod.

Bob lives on in the minds of those who knew him. When the jokes get a little blue, when truth is spoken to power, when we observe that stupidity drives more actions than malice, we are once again reminded of the wisdom of Bob.

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