Lake Kiowa, Texas
Memorial services for Robert Leo Tiner, of Lake Kiowa, Texas are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Lake Kiowa Lodge, 905 Kiowa Drive East.
Robert was born along with his twin Sister, Mary, Jan 19, 1944 at Pontotoc, Oklahoma to A.C. Tiner and Mary Thomas Tiner. He passed from this life on his 76th birthday, Sunday, January 19, 2020, at his home.
Preceding him in death were his parents, A.C. Tiner, 1978, his mother, Mary Thomas Tiner, 2018, twin sister, Mary Tiner Cantwell, 2003, two brothers in law, James Cantwell, and Gary Rich.
Robert is survived by his wife, Jo Emerson Tiner, of the home, son, Robert Bradley Tiner of Jacksonville, Florida, Daughter, Rebecca Tiner Opp and her husband Douglas Opp, of Edmond, OK, and five grandchildren, Morgan Tiner Wells, 23, Greyson Tyler Opp, 17, Cartney Michele Tiner, 16, Gillian Grace Opp,15, and Liliana Sophia Tiner, age 9. Robert is also survived by his brother, Terry Wayne Tiner and Rose Russell Tiner, of Zaneis, Oklahoma and sister, Sherry Tiner Rich of Graham, Oklahoma.
Robert attended Pontotoc School until the family moved to Zaneis, Oklahoma where he attended sixth grade before moving to Ringling, Oklahoma. The Tiner family moved once again to Zaneis, where Robert spent his high school years. He was active in sports, including Basketball, Baseball and Track. He was a member of the 4H Club and showed several prize-winning animals in the county fair. He graduated high school in 1961 and went on to complete a degree with majors in both Math and Chemistry at Southeastern State College. He earned a teaching fellowship at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry in 1971.
Although Robert and his wife, Jo, were both from Zaneis and both attended Southeastern State College, they did not begin dating until 1965 when Robert had started at OU. Jo was a Sophomore at Southeastern. They married 3 1/2 years later on January 26, 1968; the night Jo finished her course work to earn her degree.
Upon graduating from OU in 1971, Robert started work full time for Halliburton Services Company where he had worked several summers in the research lab while pursuing his degree. During the four years Robert and Jo lived in Duncan, OK, their son Brad was born. Soon after being transferred to Midland, Texas their daughter, Becky was born. Robert’s hard work at a job he loved, brought many promotions and with each came a transfer to a new location. From Midland the couple moved to Brownfield, Texas where they spent three years and then on to Dallas where they spent five great years before again relocating to Fullerton, California. The time in California was a brief stay before making the full circle back to Duncan, Oklahoma. Becky 9, and Brad 12, were lucky to spend nine years growing up in Duncan while Robert moved up in the company to become Vice President of Research and Development. In 1993 Robert was again transferred. This time to Houston where he retired from Halliburton Services to join the consulting group, Ely and Associates. After nearly another 20 years, he again retired. (Sort Of!)
In retirement Robert and Jo, by then empty nesters settled in Lake Kiowa where they had owned a home since 1999. After remodeling one home they found their present location and designed and built their dream home. Although, Jo had designed and built several homes, this last one was the first Robert was a participant in every step of the process and he was so proud of the result. An avid gardener, Robert spent hours planning and caring for his landscape. It is fitting that is where he spent his last hours of life doing something he loved.
He was the best boss I ever had and he was a good friend. I’ll miss him.
Bob was a good friend and I’m honored and blessed to have known him. We first met at OU then he helped me get my first job afterward at Halliburton. We enjoyed touch football, fishing, grad celebrations often. On one fishing trip Bob introduced us to white bass spawns on a flowing creek near Tishimingo. Bob was wading in the creek across from me and in my peripheral vision he just disappeared. Then he popped up again, very wet, laughing. He said, “I must have stepped off into a beaver hole.” We all had a good laugh..but we never could catch as many fish as Bob”.
Bob will be missed by all.
I just stumbled across the name Robert Tiner and it drew my interest, because my name is also Robert Tiner.
I was impressed with Mr. Tiner’s accomplishments through life. Gardening and fishing are also a couple of my favorite pastimes. He certainly was an educated individual and a good family man. May he rest in peace.
I retired as Chief of Police, after 35 years of Law Enforcement here in Maine. I spent five years in the Marine Corps and three years in the Coast Guard. Graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Law Enforcement.
I have been a Master Guide here in Maine for many years
and serve on the board of guide examiners.
I wish Mr. Tiner was still with us, I’d take him fishing.