Obituary for Bobby Charles Lankford
A private service service is planned and a celebratioin of life memorial will be held at a future date.
Bobby is preceded in death by parents, John Cecil Lankford and Lucille Pringle Lankford and two brothers, Johnny and Wayne Lankford.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Lankford, of Chandler, his six children, Lynette Jordan of Spring, Robert Lankford and wife Beth of Dallas, Layne Lankford of Lisbon, Portugal, and Leslie Lankford of Austin, his two stepsons, Jesse Brackett and wife Penny, of Grapevine, and Darrin Brackett and wife Jill of Chandler. He has 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Bobby grew up in Houston and graduated Reagan High School in 1950. He then attended the University of North Texas on a football scholarship. While at UNT he was in the Air Force ROTC program and after graduation entered the Air Force. He graduated Pilot Training in 1956. While in the Air Force he flew refueling tankers among other aircraft. He was also involved in the SAC. Awhile after making Captain, he left the Air Force after nine years and was then employed by American Airlines where he remained until retirement in 1988.
He resided in Irving from 1965 until 2003, and moved to Chandler in 2003.
Bobby had a zest for life, he believed in hard work and demonstrated it throughout his whole life. He recognized that hard work and dedication, stepping out of your comfort zone, and continual education was necessary to succeed. One of his favorite quotes was by Vince Lombardi, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”.
He was so grateful for all that he had and appreciated his family and friends. He enjoyed travel and golfing, reading and a good card game, and was always happiest when company was coming to the house and we were busy cooking for them.
At Bobby’s request, in lieu of flowers, please donate locally to the Chandler Food Bank or the Chandler Historical Society.
Bobby is preceded in death by parents, John Cecil Lankford and Lucille Pringle Lankford and two brothers, Johnny and Wayne Lankford.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Lankford, of Chandler, his six children, Lynette Jordan of Spring, Robert Lankford and wife Beth of Dallas, Layne Lankford of Lisbon, Portugal, and Leslie Lankford of Austin, his two stepsons, Jesse Brackett and wife Penny, of Grapevine, and Darrin Brackett and wife Jill of Chandler. He has 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Bobby grew up in Houston and graduated Reagan High School in 1950. He then attended the University of North Texas on a football scholarship. While at UNT he was in the Air Force ROTC program and after graduation entered the Air Force. He graduated Pilot Training in 1956. While in the Air Force he flew refueling tankers among other aircraft. He was also involved in the SAC. Awhile after making Captain, he left the Air Force after nine years and was then employed by American Airlines where he remained until retirement in 1988.
He resided in Irving from 1965 until 2003, and moved to Chandler in 2003.
Bobby had a zest for life, he believed in hard work and demonstrated it throughout his whole life. He recognized that hard work and dedication, stepping out of your comfort zone, and continual education was necessary to succeed. One of his favorite quotes was by Vince Lombardi, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”.
He was so grateful for all that he had and appreciated his family and friends. He enjoyed travel and golfing, reading and a good card game, and was always happiest when company was coming to the house and we were busy cooking for them.
At Bobby’s request, in lieu of flowers, please donate locally to the Chandler Food Bank or the Chandler Historical Society.