By Taylor Short/reporter3@trcle.com
Family and friends remember Robert T. “Bob” Hadley Jr., who passed away Sunday at age 84, for decades of dedication to his church, university and youths in his life.
He was born May 9, 1925, near Joshua, where he was a sixth-generation Texan and fifth-generation Johnson County resident. His family operated a farm, dairy and raised short-horn cattle.
After a seven-month battle with polio, Bob became interested in nursing at school and earned his nursing degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
He worked 13 years as the evening charge nurse for adolescents at Fort Worth Children’s Hospital, then 13 years as the evening nursing coordinator for Huguley Memorial Medical Center.
For another 13 years, Bob served as the director of health services for Southwestern Adventist University, where his passion to help young people was put to use.
“I can tell you he was an excellent person, and I can remember a time when my husband was here as a student going on his first mission trip to Africa, and he gave them all the shots,” said Theresa Mendoza, secretary to vice president for enrollment at SWAU. “My husband was remembering him last night, saying what a wonderful Christian man he was.”
Bob was also the president of the Committee of 100, a philanthropic organization at the university, for more than 30 years and the president for the Caddo Cemetery Association.
He served as a church elder and taught youth classes at the Joshua Seventh-day Adventist Church for more than 50 years.
When medical insurance wouldn’t help, Bob supplied students with the medicines they needed. And when times got tough, he supplied them with an open heart.
“Most of the time while he was at the college as the school nurse, there were lots of kids who would just come to him with their problems, maybe they split up with their boyfriend or weren’t doing well financially or failing a class, and they would just talk,” said Mary Ann Hadley, who married Bob in 1979. “So, he was their friend.”
Even after retiring from the university, Bob nurtured his connection with the students with barn bashes at his home, including hayrides and activities.
“They did it at his property, and they just had an amazing time. Of course, this year was the first year we didn’t do it on his property because he was already ill,” Mendoza said. “They did on some other property, and it just wasn’t a good experience at all without him involved because he made it so much fun.”
Mary Ann Hadley received an avalanche of condolences — expressing shock and sadness, sharing humorous memories and demonstrating Bob’s impact on several lives.
SWAU President Eric Anderson informed the faculty saying, “A founding member of the Committee of 100, Bob will be remembered for his generosity and dedication. He lived simply, pouring his time and resources into the Kingdom.”
Jonathan Guerrero, one of the people who contacted Mary Ann Hadley, said “anyone could walk into his office anytime and talk about anything and every time you left, you felt better than you came in.”
Others who contacted Mary Ann Hadley included Ron Hoehn, who said Bob left an “indelible mark” on his life, and LeeAnn Kent Miller, who said Bob was the epitome of a true Christian.
“I loved Bob very much, and he always knew just what to say to put a smile on my face,” said Kenny Bodine, another person who sent condolences to Mary Ann Hadley. “Bob played a big part in helping Laura and I figure things out and be together. I could never repay him for that gift.”
Although Bob leaves several family members and friends behind, he leaves a mark on anyone he worked or lived with.
“He had a way to connect with people, even with little kids, and especially at church. We would come to church and he would see this little guy, just barely walking, and he would shake hands with him. He would do that every week and developed a rapport with little kids, but also with teenage kids,” Mary Ann Hadley said. “It was like he was a kid at heart.”
Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. today at the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home at 512 N. Ridgeway Drive. Services are set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Joshua Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 1912 Conveyor Drive in Joshua.
