Robert Joel Lima, age 74, of Sadler, Texas, passed away on November 11, 2015. He was born March 16, 1941, in New York, New York to Emidio Joseph and Merle Elizabeth (East) Lima. On December 31, 1960, Robert married Barbara Sue Burge in Hurst, Texas. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. During his career, Robert facilitated the opening of the FBI offices in Kiev, Ukraine and negotiated the Non-Proliferation Treaty with Russia in Moscow, while attached to the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, as a diplomatic post. His regular duties were as a Second Secretary in post of Information Management. He held the same position while posted to the U.S. Embassys in Budapest, Hungary and Rome, Italy. His last posts were in Washington, D.C. and Langley, Virginia where he taught counter espionage and security procedures, before retiring. Robert spent 2 years in Saigon with General Westmoreland’s entourage as communications expert; that is the equivalent of a civilian holding the rank of Captain for the U.S. Army. He also spent 9 months in the jungles of Peru for a communication expedition and installation. Robert spent time living with head-hunter tribes in the jungle from which he hired guides and transporters for the Petro Peru Pipeline project. He also hand built the radio communications system for the first Apollo moon landing, while he was with Collins Radio; Robert worked on communications with Rockwell on the first shuttle mission as well. He was an extensive traveler and has been to 67 countries.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Sue Lima of Sadler, Texas; children, Tammy A. Smith of Sadler, Texas, Lisa K. McCoy and husband Dr. Mark McCoy of Greencastle, Indiana, Robert A. Lima of Athens, Texas, Thomas J. Lima and wife Melissa Marie of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Alicia A. Smith, Benjamin T. Lima, Isabella M. Lima, (triplets) Hadley R. McCoy, Madison G. McCoy and Savannah A. McCoy; foster-grandson, Jeremy Budde and wife Cindy; great-grandson, Christopher; nephews, J. David Lima and Richard J. Lima of California; niece, Jean Lima-Keyete also of California; and sister, Judith Ann Lima of Euless, Texas.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Emidio Joseph and Merle Elizabeth Lima; brother, John A. Lima; and sister-in-law, Carolyn W. Lima.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, November 15, 2015 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Everman Cemetery, in Everman, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation being held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday evening at the funeral home.