Robert Orlando Arellano

With profound sorrow and everlasting love, we announce the passing of Robert Orlando Arellano, 52, of Amarillo, Texas, who gained his wings on August 8, 2026.

Robert was a man who could not be defined by a few simple words. He was strong-willed, determined, stubborn, charismatic, hardworking, fiercely loyal, and unapologetically himself. He was complicated and imperfect, but he never tried to be anyone other than Robert, and that is exactly what made him who he was. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore and a personality that left an impression on everyone who crossed his path. He could be quiet and reserved, yet somehow still command a room, or he could have everyone laughing with his humor and unmistakable personality. He could drive you crazy one minute and have you laughing the next. But underneath all of those qualities was a man with a heart much bigger than he sometimes allowed people to see.

Robert was born in Pico Rivera, California, to Alcario Arellano and Sandra Cherry. His early childhood was surrounded by the love of his Grandma Maggie Mae and his many aunts and uncles in Tucumcari, New Mexico, before he went to live in Amarillo with his father, Alcario. Robert and his father were inseparable. They cruised the streets together, went everywhere together, and shared a bond that remained an important part of Robert's life. It was during those years that Alcario met Irma Ballin, and together they became a family.

Robert attended Bivins Elementary and served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He later attended Austin Middle School and graduated from Tascosa High School. As the oldest of his siblings, Christina, Isaac, Hopie, and Andrew, Robert was remembered as a quiet but charismatic child. He could be shy and rambunctious, with a mischievous side that could turn into a joke or a laugh when people least expected it. Even as a young boy, those closest to him could see the personality that would eventually become so unforgettably Robert. His love of cars began when he was young and remained one of the greatest passions of his life.

Robert lived in Colorado for a time, spent several years in Tucumcari, and eventually made Amarillo his home. Those who knew him would describe him as chaotic, crazy, funny, and completely himself. He was alot like his father in many ways. Wherever life took him, he left behind memories, friendships, stories, and people who will forever carry a piece of him in their hearts.

Robert became a father at a young age helping raise his daughter, Destanie, and later welcomed two of the greatest loves of his life, Robert “Bubba” and Orlando “Lando.” Later, Robert found his longtime love, Elena, and together they raised Bubba, Joseph, Justin, Lando and Breanna. His children became one of the greatest parts of his life, and no matter how old they became, he never stopped being their father.

Eventually, Robert received a title he insisted he was far too young for “Grandpa”. He always said he was too young to be a grandpa and wanted to be the cool one. But beneath the jokes was a genuine pride and love for his grandchildren. Seeing his children and grandchildren was one of the things he looked forward to most, and the joy they brought him was something he carried with him wherever he went.

Robert made his living fixing and selling cars, and over the years he built a collection that reflected just how much they meant to him. Cars were never simply a way to get from one place to another. They were part of his identity, part of his livelihood, and part of the life he built for himself. Those who knew Robert around Amarillo didn't need to see him to know he was coming. You could hear him long before he came into view the rumble of one of his cars, the music blaring, and the powerful presence of a man who moved through the world on his own terms. Robert didn't simply drive through town; he made his presence known. He also had his own undeniable style. As a self-proclaimed ladies' man, Robert knew exactly how he wanted to look. His signature attire was often his 501 jeans, a fresh pair of Nikes, a sleek white tee, and a plaid button-down polo. He had his own way of dressing, his own way of talking, his own way of doing things, and his own way of living. He never needed to be anyone other than himself.

Robert had a remarkable ability to take something that was broken, forgotten, or overlooked and see what it could become. There was almost always a project somewhere in his world. Whether it was a fixer-upper car, a house that needed work, an electronic that stopped working, or a collectible or antique that someone else might have thrown away, Robert could see the value in it. He loved figuring out how things worked, taking them apart, putting them back together, and refusing to give up until he had found a way to make them work again. In many ways, that was Robert himself, a man who knew how to take what life gave him and find a way forward.

To his children, however, Robert was so much more than the man everyone else knew. He was their strength, their protector, their teacher, their safe place, and their Dad.

Robert was the strongest man his children had ever known. No matter what they needed or when they needed it, he would find a way to make it happen. It didn't matter how complicated the problem was, how difficult the circumstances were, or how impossible something seemed. Robert had a way of figuring things out. He always seemed to have an answer, and when he didn't, he would find one. He lived by a simple truth he believed in deeply: “When there's a will, there's a way.”

He had a way of making his children feel protected and loved, even when life became frightening or uncertain. In their darkest moments, his presence alone could make things feel a little less scary. He taught his children that family was something to protect, something to hold onto, and something that should never be taken for granted. He constantly reminded them to look out for one another, stand beside each other, and above all else, love each other. Robert never pretended to have lived a perfect life. Instead, he used his own experiences, mistakes, struggles, and lessons to try to make sure his children could have a better life. He would often tell them, “Don't do as I do, do as I say.” Behind those words was a father who wanted more for his children. He wanted them to learn from his experiences instead of having to learn every lesson the hard way. He wanted them to make better decisions, build stronger lives, and become better versions of themselves. He taught them how to figure things out, how to work with their hands, how to stand on their own, how to help others, and how to keep going when life became difficult.

Robert's love and generosity extended far beyond his immediate family. He was the person people called when they didn't know who else to call. If someone had a flat tire, needed help fixing something, was short a couple of dollars, or simply needed someone to show up, Robert was often the one who would come through. He was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back if he believed you needed it. He didn't need recognition or praise for helping people. He simply did what he could, because that was the kind of man he was.

That is why so many people who loved Robert share similar stories about him. They remember the times he showed up when nobody else did. They remember his generosity, his humility, his loyalty, and his ability to make people laugh. They remember that no matter how chaotic life could become, Robert had a way of making people feel like they mattered. His kindness was not always loud or obvious, but it was there in the way he helped people, the way he gave what he could, and the way he made himself available when someone needed him.

Although Robert's life was not perfect, it was real. He made mistakes, faced his own battles, learned through experience, and continued moving forward. He spent his life trying to make sure the people he loved had someone they could depend on, and he left behind lessons that will continue to guide his children long after his passing.

His greatest legacy will live on through his family. His children will carry the lessons he spent their lives teaching them. They will hear his voice when they face difficult decisions and remember his insistence that there was always a way forward. They will remember his words about protecting each other and loving each other, and they will carry those lessons into their own lives. His grandchildren will grow up hearing stories about their grandfather, the cars he loved, the projects he was always working on, the music he played, his jokes, his stubbornness, his generosity, and most of all, the love and loyalty he had for his family.

Robert's life may have been far too short, but the impact he made will not be measured by the number of years he was given. It will be measured by the people who loved him, the children he raised, the grandchildren who adored him, the people he helped, and the countless lives he touched without ever realizing how much he meant to them.

He leaves behind more than memories. He leaves behind a family who will continue to love him, lessons that will continue to be passed down, stories that will continue to be told, and a legacy that will live through the people who knew him best.

Robert was preceded in death by his grandparents, Esteban and Magdalena Arellano and Esteban and Esperanza Ballin; his mother, Irma Ballin Arellano; the mother of his children, Elena Guzman; his niece, Savanah Barnes; and several beloved cousins, aunts, and uncles.

He leaves behind his father, Alcario Arellano; children Destanie Sena and her husband, Abel Rodriguez, Robert “Bubba” Arellano and his wife, Stephanie, Joseph Priego, Justin Priego, Orlando “Lando” Arellano and his wife, MJ, Breanna Priego, and Phoenix Arellano; grandchildren Trinity, Anaiyah, E'siyah, and Elena Arellano, and Anthony and Avery Rodriguez; siblings Christina Cherry, Sabrina Marquez, Isaac Arellano, Hopie Arellano, and Andrew Arellano and his wife, Rosalie; nieces Sabrina Arellano Barnes and Heaven Varela; nephews Noah Arellano, Ayden Carrasco, Alexavier Arellano, Isaiah Arellano, Noe Guzman, and Issac Varela; along with many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, and close friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Living Water Family Church, 2500 S. Eastern St., Amarillo, TX. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Ride on, Robert. Keep the music loud, keep the wheels turning, and keep watching over us.

Until we ride again, we love you always.