Robert Isaac Sweat, age 74, of Frisco, Texas, passed away in Bonham, Texas, on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Robert was born December 15, 1944, in Ben Franklin, Texas, to Jurline (Andrews) and Robert Roscoe Sweat. Robert attended Fred Douglas Elementary School and George Washington Carver High School in Greenville, Texas. After completion of his junior year at Carver, Robert left Texas and headed west for southern California.
In 1963, while a senior at Ganesha High School in Pomona, California, Robert enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves. After graduating high school in 1964, he reported for active duty in the United States Navy where he served with honor and distinction for more than thirty years. During active duty service he had assignments in Washington, DC, Norfolk, Virginia, The Republic of the Philippines, Lemoore, California and San Diego, California. Assignments to numerous naval aviation squadrons and service on USS Intrepid, USS Gray, USS Ranger, USS Kitty Hawk, USS New Orleans, USS Okinawa and USS Kidd provided him the opportunity to travel the world and visit more than twenty foreign ports. Robert’s service includes extended shipboard deployments in support of combat operations in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Ascending to the rank of master chief petty officer (E9) he was selected to fill the coveted position of Command Master Chief in his last five assignments.
Upon retirement on USS Kidd in 1994, Robert spent some time in Ontario, Canada, before returning to his warm Texas home, where he lived a fruitful life working for the United States Postal Service. Initially working as a carrier in Dallas, he eventually moved to his final home in Frisco, where he worked in maintenance until his retirement in 2013. Robert called two churches home, finding God’s almighty presence in both Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and the Cosmopolitan United Church of Christ. In the spring of 2016, Robert became a resident of the VA Community Living Center in Bonham.
Outrageously kind, extroverted and vibrant, Robert was a talkative and loving member of his multiple communities. He always made a point to speak to everybody he knew— and very frequently to people he did not. This talkative and effervescent demeanor would follow him to his final days, as he was commonly referred to as the VA hospital’s most expressive and grandest storyteller, even in the degradation of his linguistic capabilities. The topics Robert enjoyed speaking about were as follows; the Navy, who was set to beat the Dallas Cowboys, James Brown, and whichever dessert the hospital was serving that day. Even as his memory diminished, mentions of his parents, brothers and sister frequently energized Robert enough to speak excitedly and lovingly. The joy he carried for his family, God and humankind never waned, and never shall.
Robert is survived by his loving wife, Nanette Sweat; his children, Donna Sweat and Mark Sweat, both of San Diego, California, Amber Sweat of Frisco, Texas, Abel Ayuste and his wife, Grace of Petawawa, Canada, Fides Santucci and her husband, Dexter of France, Alan Ayuste and his wife, Maricar of Kanata, Canada, and Noemi Smith and her husband, Steven of Wichita, Kansas; his grandchildren, Amaya, Icara, Elisa, Athena, Cameron, Freya, Conan, Abigail, Dagny; his brothers, Donnie Sweatt of Greenville, Texas, and Edward Sweat and his wife, Rochelle also of Greenville; his sister, Darlene Holmes of Portland, Oregon; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Jurline and Robert R. Sweat.
A Funeral Word Service will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8000 Eldorado Parkway, Frisco, Texas, on Monday, February 4, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Deacon John Costello. The family will receive friends during a Visitation at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 8520 Main Street, Frisco, on Sunday, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Inurnment will be held at DFW National Cemetery on Friday, July 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the Sweat family kindly requests that donations be made to the VA North Texas Healthcare System. Information can be found at https://www.northtexas.va.gov/giving/