Robert E. Barnhill III

Robert (Bob) E. Barnhill III, 61, of Lubbock, conquered his seven-year battle with ALS on Friday, May 4, 2018, while surrounded by family and friends. A visitation will be held Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers from 6 to 8 PM. A service celebrating his life will be held at Broadway Church of Christ on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 1 PM. A member of a founding family, Robert was a fifth generation Lubbockite. He graduated with honors from Monterey High School in 1974. He received his BBA degree with honors from Texas Tech University in 1976. In 1980 he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech School of Law, and received his MBA from Texas Tech, also in 1980. He married Jana Barnhill on August 9, 1980, in Denison, TX. Robert was an Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist and Certified Financial Planner, who specialized in Estate, Retirement and Individual Income Tax Planning. He authored several books covering these topics, as well as leadership. He taught continuing education courses to CPAs and Tax Attorneys in every state in the country, as well as for Cornell University, Texas A&M, University of Michigan and University of North Carolina and was an adjunct professor at Texas Tech in the Personal Financial Planning Department for 25 years. Robert was an award-winning speaker, holding Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker designation and was named by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as an Outstanding Discussion Leader. He was the 1996-1997 International President for Toastmasters International, a Past President of the West Texas Chapter of the Financial Planning Association and served on the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Lubbock Community Theatre and was a Past Chairman of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee. He was a member of the American Bar Association, AICPA, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Society of Financial Service Professionals, National Speakers Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Robert was a lifetime member of the Broadway Church of Christ, which he loved and taught adult Bible classes there. Robert was a loving, devoted husband, loyal friend and avid Texas Tech supporter. He will be remembered for his booming voice and laugh, his never-ending quest for knowledge and endless energy. Mostly, he will be remembered for his incredible faith. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. In the face of incredible adversity, he always had a smile on his face, he never complained and always encouraged others to sing their song. Robert is survived by his wife, Jana; sister, Kathryn Moody; nephews, Jeremy Salazar and Zachary Harber; niece, Meagan Goyne and her husband, Bryce, all of Lubbock; brother-in-law, Jerry Barnett, of Little Rock, AR; sister-in-law, Kathy Barnett, of Bella Vista, AR; brother-in-law, David and his wife, Carla of Corpus Christi, TX; niece, Jennifer Huskins and her husband Paul, of Tulsa, OK; nephew, Michael Barnett and his wife, Jill, of Lubbock; niece Holly Rush and her husband James, of Richmond, TX; niece Amy Cook and her husband, Joey of Cibolo, TX and many great-nieces and nephews. They called him “Superman.” The family expresses their deepest gratitude to Dr. Appel and the ALS Team at Houston Methodist Hospital and Drs. Yepes-Hurtado, Islam and her team, Cook and Lux of UMC, as well as Kindred Hospice and Comfort Keepers of Lubbock, especially Kari, Madison and Virginia, who became family.