Bobby Joe Densman

Bobby Joe Densman, 79 of Buffalo Gap, Texas passed away November 16, 2019 in Abilene, Texas

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 21, 2019 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, with Bobby’s son Joel Densman of Onion Creek Baptist Church Austin, Texas officiating. Chris Hale, Chaplain for the Abilene Fire Department, will preside in his final honors. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Santa Anna Cemetery Santa Anna, Texas. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Bobby was born in Santa Anna, Texas to Ellis Albert (E.A.) Densman and Frances Brown Densman on June 1, 1940. He attended Santa Anna schools and graduated as a member of the class of 1958. Bobby also earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Cisco Junior College, graduating in May 1987. Bobby married Joan Goen on April 11, 1959. They spent the next 35 years together until Joan passed away in 1994. Bobby and Joan had 4 children, Joretta, Jay, Joel and Tina. Bobby was then blessed to meet Sharon Little Bush and they married August 17, 1997 and spent the next 22 years together.  He spent 28 years serving the City of Abilene as a firefighter retiring in 1994 at the rank of Lieutenant. Bobby spent the last years of his career as a member of the training team working as an instructor for the City of Abilene Firefight rookie training program. After retiring from the fire department, Bobby worked for the state of Texas serving in the Division of Emergency Management as a regional liaison officer, a part of the DPS, before retiring for the final time.  He was active in serving on the Firefighter pension board as a firefighter member representative and then serving in the capacity of a citizen representative after retiring. He also spent many years molding young men’s lives as a coach at Western Little League. He spent many hours attending seminars and continuing education classes. He was chosen to attend classes at the National Fire Academy in Maryland and then was invited as a guest teacher to teach a summer class. Bobby was part of the emergency management team that participated in the search and recovery effort of the space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. He attended Beltway and was a member of a life group.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents E.A. and Frances Densman, wife Joan Goen Densman, son Jay Rex Densman, grandson Christopher Bryan Haas and son-in-law Tony A. Haas.

Bobby is survived by a large loving and caring family which include his wife, Sharon Densman of Buffalo Gap; daughter; Joretta Haas and  husband Britt  of Whitney, Texas; son, Joel Densman and wife DeAnne of Lockhart, Texas; daughter, Tina Atkins and husband John of Springtown, Texas; stepson, Jeff Bush and wife Diana of Austin, Texas; step-daughter, Holly Cushing and husband Blake stationed at Anderson AFB, Guam; brother, Denny  Densman and wife Louise of Brady, Texas; sister, Brenda Stancil and husband Stan of Big Spring, Texas. Bobby (known as Pa) was loved by his grandchildren, Casey Atkins of Austin, Texas; Justin Atkins of Springtown, Texas; Joshua Atkins and wife Brooke of Springtown, Texas; Zach Haas of Lubbock, Texas; Kelsey Densman of Lubbock, Texas; Caleb Densman of Lockhart, Texas; Devin Parish stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; Jaycie Cushing of Guam; Lauren Cushing of Guam; Zoe Bush of Napa, California, and great granddaughters Evelyn, Riley and Jacob Atkins of Springtown, Texas. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Bobby.

Bobby’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers along with honorary pallbearer, Albert Wilhite. The Abilene Fire Department will provide an honor guard.

After retirement Bobby moved to Buffalo Gap and filled his time with animals to care for each day, gardens to plant and his love of creating and building in his woodshop. His pieces made with loving hands will never be forgotten. Bobby was an avid supporter all his life of his alma mater Santa Anna High School, rarely missing homecoming celebrations and was named ex-student of the year in 1995 by the class of 1958. He also supported the school district of Jim Ned attending many athletic events to support junior high and high school students.

We ask that you remember Bobby by supporting young people. Please support their fundraisers, give in events that support their organizations and give them the support they need to succeed in life.

As a family we wish to thank all the caring nurses, aides and staff at Hendrick Medical Center for their loving, kind and compassionate care of our loved one. Thank you to Hendrick Hospice and Mesa Springs Nursing Center for your care in the last days.  We also would like to thank the members of our Beltway family life group for their love support and prayers. Our most special thanks goes to Albert Wilhite for his devotion to our family as Bobby traveled the last miles of a long rich life. 

Memories may be shared and condolences submitted online at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com