Robert W. "Bobby" Bighouse

April 26, 1955 - August 1, 2022

At 4:24am, Aug 1, 2022, Bobby as most of you knew him, succumbed to his combined illnesses, and went to be with his Mom, Beth, Joanie, & Jimmy. In lieu of flowers, donations to the ALS Association in Bobby’s name is appreciated. 

Posted by brother William J. Bighouse  8/2/2022  6:49 am

Robert W. “Bobby” Bighouse was born April 26, 1955 to Robert L. Bighouse and Elizabeth Jane Rieger in Charleston, West Virginia; the second of six children.

Bobby passed after a short illness with Covid on August 1, 2022. He lived with ALS for decades, refusing to give an inch.

He graduated from Westchester High School in 1973 and spent the rest of his years learning from the school of life.  He worked in the 1980s and 1990s with adults who had developmental disabilities at New Vistas in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Santa Maria El Mirador in Alcalde, New Mexico.

His father’s job moved the family around quite a bit and he developed a love of travel. Bobby’s life was anything but traditional. He traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America. It was during his travels that he fell in love with the people and land of Nicaragua. He worked tirelessly to help the farmers, indigents and Sandinista’s in their struggles with the rebels. He would return to the states to earn money to return for another trip as quickly as he could. He would gather clothes, shoes, donations of any kind to bring to the people of Nicaragua. He eventually moved to Costa Rica and found his new home where he bought some land on the mountainside with his own orchard of banana trees. He had found heaven. He loved all things outdoors, caring for his plants and being one with nature.

Bobby called Dixon, New Mexico home when he was stateside and had a close-knit community of friends that he called family. Bobby contracted ALS in his late 30s, the same illness that took his older sister. He fought it with everything he had and ALS met its match in his green smoothies, vegan diet and lifestyle.

He moved to Alpine, Texas in his later years until he was no longer able to live on his own. He came back to Houston and lived a peaceful life with his father and cat Rojo. Bobby lived life on his terms. He was a kind and gentle soul. He enjoyed hiking in the mountains and living a simple life close to the land. He advocated for living life humanely and sustainably. Bob’s family, friends and neighbors were enriched by having him in their lives.

“Once a hippie, always a hippie!”

A very special thank you goes out to his many caretakers over the years and most recently to Joy Ogunkoya and Sunday Etukudo. His niece Heather Clesi gave so selflessly to assist in his care, become his personal assistant and chauffeur despite having a full time job and growing family.

He is survived by his father, Robert L. Bighouse; sister Julie Bighouse and spouse Linda J. Mangold; brother William J. Bighouse and spouse Gail Bighouse; and multiple nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother Elizabeth Jane Bighouse, brother James Patrick Bighouse, sisters; Beth A. Geiger and Joan Marie Burleson.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 Schmidt Funeral Home, 1344 West Grand Parkway South, Katy, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in Bob’s honor to the ALS Association (alstexas.org, als.org).

https://www.schmidtfuneralhome.net/obituary/robert-w-bobby-bighouse