December 16, 1946 – March 18, 2026
BOWIE – Bob Fitzner, 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 18, 2026 in Bowie, TX.
The funeral services were at 11 a.m. on March 23 at First Baptist Church, Bowie with Minister Jack Pritchard officiating. The family received friends from 2 – 4 p.m. on March 22 at White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
The burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Bob Fitzner was born Dec. 16, 1946 to James and Annabelle Fitzner in Tucumcari, NM. After graduating Tascosa High School in Amarillo, class of 1965, he immediately enlisted in the United States Army wanting to serve his country. While in the Army, he excelled as a soldier and rose to the Special Forces Team of a Green Beret. As an Airborne Green Beret trained at Fort Bragg, NC, Sergeant Bob Fitzner earned his wings and then became a Jumpmaster.
His additional training included certification in glacier climbing and repelling, river navigation, firearms expert and field medic. After his service to his country, Bob chose to pursue his education at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. While in Wichita Falls, he met his beautiful bride, Linda Diane White. They married Dec. 4, 1971 at First Baptist Church in Bowie. They started their life together while attending college in Wichita Falls where they began their family.
While raising their children, Bob created and established Homestead Mobile Homes in Burkburnett and eventually expanded to seven additional mobile home lots throughout Texas. While raising their four children, Bob was heavily involved in the community in the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president and officer for the board of commerce and industry. He coached many of his children’s youth sport teams. In 1989, the family moved to Bowie where he eventually started Homestead Mortgage.
Throughout his time in Bowie, he served as Bowie High School Booster Club President for two years while continuing to support every child in all activities from basketball, cheerleading, football, baseball and golf, and especially supporting his wife creating community musicals and being a local high school theater teacher.
Traveling was a favorite past time of Bob and Linda, as they were fortunate enough to travel the world while their children were young. He pursued his passion for flying and aircrafts in 1982 and earned his personal pilots license then bought his first plane, which was Cessna 172. He also loved being recognized as a radio star starting in Seattle where he was the voice of the daily “Troop Salute” and for the past five years has been the voice of the “Troop Salute” on the Country Top 40 Countdown with Fitz. Known as “Green Beret Bob’ he is adored by listeners throughout the world.
Bob is survived by his wife, Linda Fitzner; son, Brady Fitzner, Bowie; daughter, Misti Fitzner Reed and husband Thomas, Colleyville; son, Cory Fitzner and wife, Bethany, Weatherford; son, Dustin Fitzner of Dallas Fort Worth; sisters, Jimmie Ann Vaughn, Bastrop and twin sister, Bonnie Dennis, Georgetown; 13 grandchildren, Austin, Allie and Andy Fitzner; Everleigh, Tanner and Breeland Reed, and Corbin, Chloe, Cooper, Drew, Cash, Bowie and Bodie Fitzner; four great-grandchildren, Hank, Jesco, Duke and Janeas; and many nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made in honor of Bob to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or the Bowie Jackrabbit Booster Club, P.O. Box 285 Bowie, TX 76230.
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