Dates
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robert Dale “Bob” Darling on June 27, 2026, at the age of 79.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, to Ellen and Dewey Myers, he was defined by loyalty and hard work from an early age. A proud United States Marine, he served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. That service stayed with him the rest of his life.
His journey eventually led him to Ozona, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Belia, in the early 1980s. He was working the fuel bay at a local truck stop, and she was waitressing in the diner there, a chance meeting that turned into a lifetime. They married on Valentine’s Day in 1988 and built a life together rooted in love, laughter, and unwavering devotion. He had a running joke of knocking on the door and, when asked who it was, answering “Tom Cruise,” insisting he was Belia’s very own version of the movie star.
In their final years, the two shared a room together at the nursing home, where he kept watch over her.
For many years, Bob worked the overnight shift at the local Town & Country convenience store. In a town as small as Ozona, that meant nearly everyone knew him, and he seemed to know everyone right back, always ready with a story or a kind word for whoever walked through the door late at night. He was rarely seen without his oversized thermos by his side.
Family was his greatest joy, and he believed love was something you showed, not just something you said. He was the grandfather who never missed what mattered: piling every grandkid he could fit into the car for an afternoon at the park or the pool, cheering from the stands at ballgames, showing up for school programs and birthdays, or simply sitting nearby with a newspaper and the crossword puzzle he’d all but mastered. His quiet presence, steady support, and unconditional love created memories his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will carry with them forever.
Bob often said that the happiest day of his life was the day his daughter, Bobbie Lynn, was born on May 14, 1987, with marrying Belia coming in, as he liked to joke, a close second. When Bobbie Lynn passed away on June 5, 2010, Bob and Belia stepped in and raised her two children, Mia and Adolfo, for several years before they went on to live with their father. Their bond was unmatched and unbreakable. Mia and Adolfo remained Bob’s main purpose, the two he lived for most in his later years.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen and Dewey Myers; his beloved daughter, Bobbie Lynn Darling; and his son, Adolfo Rodriquez. He is survived by his wife, Belia Darling; his brother, Gary Darling, of Ohio; his children, Belinda Rodriquez, Abel Rodriquez, Lalo Rodriquez, and Brenda Rodriquez; along with many cherished grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends.
Although his family mourns his passing, they find comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering and has been reunited with his beloved daughter. His legacy of love and humor will live on in the family he cherished so deeply.
Bob had a saying for nearly everything. He liked to remind us that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” and that “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” sayings that captured both his dry wit and his belief that some things were worth doing right. If he were here today, he’d probably tell us, “I may not always be right, but I’m never wrong,” before flashing that familiar grin. Through it all, he never stopped being a Marine at heart.
Semper Fi, Bob. Your watch is over. We will love you, miss you, and carry your memory with us always.