William Robert “Bob” Vernon, Jr., passed away in the presence of his loving family on Monday, December 29, 2015 at the age of 86. Visitation will be January 3, 2016 between the hours of 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Broecker Funeral Home, Salado. Services will be held on January 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Old Historic Chapel of the Salado United Methodist Church, officiated by Lara Whitley Franklin, pastor. Interment will be at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, with full military honors.

Mr. Vernon was born November 11, 1929 in Santa Monica, CA to William Robert Vernon, Sr. and Coral Faye Campbell. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings – Gary, Richard “Dick,” and Carol Lynn Ostrum—and one son, W. R. Vernon, III.

Bob graduated from Elliot High in Altadena, CA in 1948 and later graduated from Mt. San Antonio College. In 1950, he married Jimmie L. Madden at Camp Hood.

He proudly served in the U. S. Army in several capacities, including military intelligence, and later in ROTC instruction at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. And Marshall University in Huntington WV. Mr. Vernon retired in October, 1969 as a Command Sergeant Major. He was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bob enjoyed a second retirement after working from 1971-1995 as a railroad inspector for the Santa Fe Railroad.

H is survived by his wife, Jimmie, of 65 years, six children- Jimmie Ray (Robin), Joy Parker (Gary), Robert L. Vernon, Sherry Garwood (Bob), Holly Maatta (Craig), and Janna Wittenburg (Mark) – 13 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, his sister, Marleta Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salado United Methodist Church Building Fund, or to a charity of your choice.