Mr. Robert H. Dotson

Robert Dotson, age 72, of Fort Worth, Texas was called home to his Heavenly Father on March 8, 2023, surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of His Life:  11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Los Vaqueros Restaurant, 2629 North Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas  76164.

Robert was born September 8, 1950 in Clayton, Georgia, the son of Lawrence and Hallie Cabe Dotson. He was the oldest of four brothers. As an Army brat, Robert lived in various places growing up, including Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, Royaumeix, France and Karlsruhe, Germany, before his family settled in Cleburne, Texas. He spent the most formative part of his childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains in Franklin, North Carolina, a region of the country that he loved deeply. He and his wife and children visited the area many times over the years. His North Carolina family were beloved and meant the world to him.

Robert met the love of his life, Connie Elaine Smith, in 1973 when they were classmates at Texas Wesleyan University. They were wed on July 12, 1975 after both graduated. They were blessed with two children, Daniel and Melanie. He adored his family so much that he had their names tattooed on him.

Robert had a strong work ethic and worked for several companies in his career, including the Cleburne Times-Review, Southwestern Bell, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and IBM. He prided himself on providing for his family. A man of faith, he was baptized at Northside Church of Christ, and later served as a Deacon at Rosemont Church of Christ where he baptized his daughter, Melanie. He was a proud, lifelong Democrat and counted Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter among his heroes.

Robert had a love for classic country music and Southern Gospel music. He was an avid reader, and passed on that love to his children. He also loved PBS mysteries. In his later years he and his beloved Connie loved to go camping in their camper at Benbrook Lake and Loyd Park in Grand Prairie. He also enjoyed collecting fountain pens, knives and watches.

Robert loved eating out and discovering hole-in-the-wall restaurants off the beaten path. One of his and Connie’s first dates was at Caro’s in Fort Worth, and it was a family tradition when Daniel and Melanie were kids to go out to eat on Friday night, usually followed with a trip to a bookstore. He loved Jack in the Box tacos, banana pudding, coconut pie and vanilla frozen custard topped with caramel. He was also an excellent baker and his specialties were Buttermilk Sky Pie and White Lily Pound Cake.

Robert was extremely kind-hearted and loved his family beyond measure. He never stopped worrying that his children might need something. He was “the best of all of us,” as his brother Tom said.

Survivors: Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Connie Elaine Smith Dotson; his son, Daniel Dotson and wife, Kari, and their daughter, Grace of McKinney, Texas; his daughter, Melanie Lunsford and husband, Richie, and their four children of Fort Worth, Texas; his three brothers, Harold Dotson, Edward Dotson, Thomas Dotson and their spouses, along with extended family.