Robert "Bob" Earl Wooten

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Robert Earl Wooten, affectionately known as Captain Bob, entered into eternal rest on Friday, the 22nd of August 2025 at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas with his wife and daughter by his side. He was 86 years of age.

Bob was born on April 11, 1939, in San Antonio, Texas, son of the late John Henry Wooten and Susie Helen Woodward Wooten. He attended Auburn University in Alabama and went on to begin his career with the United States Border Patrol. During his career, Bob was stationed and resided in Laredo, Rio Grande City, Falcon Heights, Del Rio, McAllen, and Brownsville, Texas, where he retired as a Patrol Agent in Charge after 33 years of dedicated service.

Bob was a member and past master of the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81, A.F. & A.M of Brownsville, a member of the Point Isabel Masonic Lodge No. 33, and member of the Mercedes Masonic Lodge No. 1010 of Weslaco, all through which he forged lifelong friendships.

His favorite pastimes included fishing, fishing, and more fishing, in addition to building radio model airplanes, his love for classic cars, traveling with his wife to visit the grandchildren, and tinkering.

Preceding Bob in death are his parents, John Henry Wooten and Susie Helen Wooten; and his siblings, Helen Wooten Theiling, John Clifton Wooten, and Juanita Wooten.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Judith “Judy” Vargas Wooten; his children, Robert Michael Wooten, Judith Elaine Wooten, and John Christopher Wooten; his grandchildren Peter Aaron Wooten of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Samuel Joseph Wooten of Houston, Texas, Rebecca Lee Wooten of Texas City, Texas, Justin Robert Lewis of Mars Hill, North Carolina, John Colin Lewis of Nashville, Tennessee, Robert James Wooten of Royce City, Texas, and Madison Elaine Wooten of Fort Worth, Texas; his great-grandchildren, Leonard Kal-El Gonzalez and Gabriel Jaime Gonzalez; his sister-in-law, Susan Garza; his niece and nephew, Teri Lynn Wooten-Mendes of Tacoma, Washington and Peter Jonathan Lopez of Edinburg, Texas; his beloved cat of 16 years, Missy; and lifelong friends of over 50 years, Bill and Lupita Anderson and their sons, John David Anderson and Jared Daniel Anderson; and the Gonzalez Family.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Kalim Habet, Dr. Falen Miles, and their team at The Heart Institute of Brownsville; and to Odie Noriega, Edgar Reyna, Don Quijano, Sandy Rincon, Daniel Martinez, and Elizabeth Callais of ValleyCare Home Health Services of Brownsville, for the exceptional care they provided for Bob. The family wishes to thank Steven and the staff of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home for their professionalism, love, and care given to us during this time.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, the 30th of August 2025 beginning at one o’clock in the afternoon with U.S. Border Patrol honors and Masonic ceremonies to commence at two o'clock in the afternoon within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. All services will conclude Saturday afternoon.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests contributions in memory of Bob be directed to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (dogood.t2t.org), or to a charity of your choice.

Memories of Bob may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.