Mom followed Jesus up the trail of lights, joining the many family and friends that preceded her in the journey, on February 27th 2024. She was at home and surrounded by family.

The diagnosis came in 2004- "essential tremors," commonly associated with Parkinson's disease. At 65 years of age, the disease started to relentlessly deteriorate the communication between her mind and body, slowly robbing her independence.

In 2023, it had become difficult for her to sit up for any length of time and she would recline on the sofa. We watched the Price is Right, Barker Era, on a regular basis. One evening in January 2024, a prize "up for bid" was a cedar chest. Mom vividly recalled and vocalized in no uncertain terms the cedar chest given to her as a graduation gift from her parents saying, "me and Daddy went to Norman's Furniture in Pasadena to pick one out." Then she said, "I worked at Norman's for a little in high school." She also relayed the location was in old Pasadena near Highway 225.

Her mind remained strong. Her body began breaking down rapidly during the last two months. Many family members and honorary family members visited during her last few months living on this earth. She recognized every single one who walked through her door and greeted them with a big familiar smile.

Mom always worked. During high school, she worked as a "soda-jerk" in the old drugstore fountain on Spencer near Avenue C and Texas St. In the summer of '56, after graduation she went to work for Shell Oil Co. and remained there until getting married and moving to College Station in December 1956. It was at the drugstore where the love of her life came calling, a second time. This time was a game-changer. In her diary on January 21st 1956 she wrote, "Tonight, Bill and I started going steady. I have been going with him exactly a month today. I believe I have liked him ever since I had my first date with him when I was a sophomore."

Bobby and Bill were married for 67 years and 67 days. Dad says she planned it that way to help him remember the exact length of time.

She went on to work at Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in College Station, Texas while Dad attended Texas A&M on a football scholarship. In 1957, a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit was issued to her by the Federal Communications Commission.

After moving back to Pasadena, Texas, they lived at the Ann Street Apartments and later the Austin Street Apartments. She worked at Houston Lighting and Power while Bill worked at Mrs. Baird's Bakery. Her father worked for HL&P as a lineman. She affectionately recalled the memories of riding into work up Allendale/Allengenoa/Lawndale and into Houston with her Daddy.

"Bobbie," spelling changed by Her, was born in Goose Creek, Texas in 1938 to Mable Izora Crowson Gilmore and David Gilbert Gilmore. She had one older sibling, a sister, Betty Joan Gilmore King. In the early 1940's, the family moved into Houston where she attended Houston Gardens Elementary. Later, they moved to Vista Street in South Houston, where she attended South Houston Intermediate and Pasadena High School.

During several years at Pasadena High School, she was involved in the Booster Club and Girl's Athletic Association. In her senior year of 1956, Bobby was elected class Vice-President and class Friendliest. Bobby and Bill were married at Alta Vista Baptist church on December 22nd 1956 during a break between the fall and spring semester.

Her first child, David Vernon, was born in August of 1960. She and Bill bought a house in Freeway Manor on Hinds St. Despite having decent jobs and a house, they decided they would continue to stack the odds in their favor. Bill would return to college. He needed to finish what he started.

Bobbie and Bill moved to Abilene, Texas in 1962, where she worked for a locally owned family-run oil company. Dad "walked-on" at McMurry University earning a second football scholarship, completing his bachelor's degree in 1964. The young family immediately moved back to Pasadena and into the house on Hinds St. It had been rented out and managed by Bobbie's parents while they were away. She was expecting their second child.

With Bachelor of Science degree in hand, Bill was hired immediately as a teacher and coach for the Pasadena Independent School District. A few months later, Bobby gave birth to Deandra Lynn. She told the story many times of being nine months pregnant at a football game "outside in the rain, jumping around," and a man "tapped me on the shoulder and said 'ma'am, you better sit down or you are going to have that baby right here!'" Bobby was not a sitter, by any means, and continued releasing her excitement freely until completion of the contest. After getting home, her water broke and off to the hospital they went.

The mother of two stayed in the mix attending Alta Vista Baptist Church and served as an elected officer in the Pasadena Coaches Wives Club. Bobby loved to throw a party and was a true fashion icon keeping up with the changing styles of the 60's and 70's. During this period, she started taking classes at San Jacinto College. She was, after all, an Aquarius, relishing change and challenge.

In 1970, she went to work for the U.S. Census. She proudly relayed going door-to-door counting heads. At the conclusion of this assignment, she made enough to buy a solid wood dining room table. She ate Thanksgiving Dinner 2023 at the head of this same table in her home with a house full of her family.

Although Bobby was never one to avoid work, this is exactly what she did during the 1972 move from the Freeway Manor house to the Sagemont house. We can agree to  call it selective labor. She was giving birth to her third child, Dena Leann. Bobby and Dena came home to a new-to-the-family location where she quickly picked up where she left off, throwing birthday parties, supporting school and after-school activities, boosting everyone up at athletic events and attending classes. She would not be denied the opportunity to advance her education and continued as a part-time student in the midst of all the excitement of her beautiful life.

In May of 1978, Bobby Lynne Gilmore Newcomb graduated from The University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Education and landed her first teaching gig at Pearland High School. She taught Typing for one year before taking a position at her alma mater, Pasadena High School in the Business Education department.

Mrs. Newcomb took the baton of the business professional office education department and ran with it. She consistently created and fortified the success of individuals and teams of students in the classroom, at competition, and on the job.

Students under her watch held paying jobs at diverse companies. Some of the training stations were at Lyondell Chemical, Shell Oil Co., NASA, and Villa de Matel. In 2001, she was nominated and subsequently awarded the District Teacher of the Year by the Region IV Education Service Center.

Bobby served Pasadena ISD for 24 years, touching and influencing the lives of generations to come. She made a flawless handoff to the next leg of Pasadena ISD's Career and Technology Education in 2003.

Bobbie leaves behind her husband of 67 years, Bill Vernon Newcomb, Jr. and three children: son David Vernon Newcomb and wife, Esther Gonzales Newcomb; daughter Deandra Lynn Newcomb McKinney; daughter Dena Leann Newcomb Pratt and husband, Shane Matthew Pratt.

Her legacy lives on through her 10 grandchildren: Kristi Gail Newcomb Endres and husband, Talton Endres; Whitney Allard Bernard and husband, Terence Bernard; Joshua Daniel McKinney and wife, Whitney Parnell McKinney; David Vernon Newcomb, Jr. and wife, Megan Lucas Newcomb; Jeremy Newcomb McKinney and wife, Elise Lubanko McKinney; Kelsie Newcomb Williams and husband, Josh Williams; Ryan Kyle Newcomb and wife, Kaylon Nichols Newcomb; Chris DaSilva; Tyler Matthew Newcomb; Lauren Newcomb Townley and husband, Colby Townley; Jacob DaSilva; Savannah Newcomb Johnson and husband, Dylan Johnson; Allison DaSilva; Tatum Pratt; Julia DaSilva; Mable Addison Pratt.

And, the beat goes on through the 19 (at last count) great grandchildren, listed in order of appearance: Hadley McClain, Ryan McClain, Barrett Williams, Connar Endres, Kyndal McClain, Cash Townley, Parker Endres, Spencer Newcomb, Holden Williams, Beaux Evans, Elliott Williams, Maddox Newcomb, Nolan Newcomb, Kooper Johnson, Maui Townley, Peyton Newcomb, Kamryn Newcomb, Layne Johnson and Everett McKinney.

Please join family and friends on Friday March 8th 2024, International Women's Day, to honor the legacy of Bobby Lynne Gilmore Newcomb, at Peevey Funeral Home. The funeral service honoring her life will be held at 10:30am, with a visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The Newcomb Family has set up a savings account at Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union in Bobby Newcomb's name. The scholarship in Bobby's name will be awarded yearly to a Business Professional of America student from Pasadena High School.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the scholarship fund via cash, check or Venmo. Checks can be made out to Bobby Newcomb. Venmo to Bill Newcomb.