Robert D. (Bob) Fenley

Robert D. (Bob) Fenley, of Amarillo died June 24, 2026.

A private burial service with special friends, and family will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors followed by a memorial service at The Colonies Church of Christ at 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 27th, with Bret McCasland and Lynn Camp officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, June 26th, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 6-7:30 PM. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Mr. Fenley was born December 21, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas, to Dan and Letha Fenley. Bob grew up in Lubbock and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1955. During his high school years he was active in the Lubbock High band, and was, at the age of 16, a bassoonist with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Carol James, on August 10, 1956, and attended Texas Tech University receiving his BBA Degree in 1959. Following his graduation Bob, entered the US Army in the Finance Corp and spent 3 years of active duty mainly in Nuremberg, Germany, in the 14th FDS.

After his tour of duty he and Carol returned to Lubbock and then moved to Amarillo in October, 1963, as a mortgage banker with Bankers Life of Des Moines, Iowa. In 1964 he was employed with American Mortgage Co. until December 1971. In January of l972, he was hired by the Amarillo National Bank to assist the bank in opening their Mortgage Loan Department.

During these early years in Amarillo, he taught Real Estate Finance at Amarillo College and in October 1972 started his own real estate and building company. Fenley Homes, Inc. through the years built more than 1000 houses in Amarillo and surrounding towns, specializing in FHA/VA housing.

Bob served the building industry locally as President of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association (TPBA) in 1975 and 1981 and received the TPBA Builder of the Year award in 2010. Bob served the Texas Association of Builders as a director and was elected as the TAB's Panhandle/South Plains Area 5 Vice President on two separate occasions. He also served for many years as a director of the National Association of Builders as well as the Texas Association of Builders.

Bob and Carol were members of the Southwest Church of Christ since 1963, where Bob served as a deacon for many years. Many children remember him as “Brother Bob” as he led dozens of Vacation Bible School sessions.

Deceased family members: Dan and Letha Fenley, parents.

Survived by wife of 69 years Carol; children Keith (Lisa) Fenley and Kendra (Brad) Thornton; grandchildren, Austin (Katelynn) Fenley, Katie (AJ) Davison, Karli Thornton, Kaci (Chris) Dukett, Kaleb Thornton, Kenzi Thornton, and Kanan (Alexa) Thornton; great-grandchildren, Ellie Mae and Clementine Fenley, Karter Dukett, and Ki Thornton; sister Danna Wharton; sister-in-law Sandra Shirey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to High Plains Children's Home, or to Eastern European Missions.