Robert “Bob”
David Bergman
October 07, 1924 -
January 12, 2018
Bob was born on October 7, 1924, in the small western Nebraska town of Kimball to Carl E. and Minnie Bergman. The oldest of four children,
he, his brothers Don and Jack, and their younger sister Kathy, grew up on a farm in the middle of wheat count ry. The family later moved to
Boulder, Colorado, where upon graduation from high school Bob applied for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Another
young man from his district got the only congressional appointment available, so Bob enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Later
that same year he was notified that the young man that had received the appointment had left the Academy, so it was offered to Bob and he was
off to Annapolis. He became part of the famous Class of 1947, which was actually expedited to graduate in 1946 so they could help with the war
effort. Bob graduated 13th in a class of 1,200 midshipmen, several spots ahead of the 39th president, Jimmy Carter. The War in the Pacific had
ended by his graduation, so he served his time on the USS Atlanta and left the Navy when his tour was up.
While at the Academy, Bob was introduced by his roommate to a young Texas girl named Anne Newberry. They were married on August 19,
1947, and enjoyed 70 years of love and devotion together. Bob had learned to sail while at the Naval Academy, and he, Anne and their family
enjoyed many weekends on their Sunfish, and later their beloved Catalina 22, sailing the lakes of Texas. On family vacations the family sailed
together in the Florida Keys and the Windward Islands of the Bahamas where they made many great memories. Bob was the ultimate
Ship’s Officer.
Bob worked as an independent insurance agent for 50 years, beginning his career in Weatherford at the W.D. Newberry Insurance Agency in
1949, which later became Bergman, Grogan, Newberry and Rothrock Insurance. In 1976, he was elected President of the Independent
Insurance Agents of Texas and received their highest lifetime award, the Drex Foreman Award. Bob also served as United Way Campaign
Chairman, President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, was a Master Mason, the Weatherford Independent School District School
Board, and was a city councilman. In 1959, he was named Outstanding Weatherford Citizen of the Year. Near and dear to their hearts were Bob’s
and Anne’s friends in the Weatherford Wine and Food Society. They attended All Saints Episcopal Church (now All Saints Anglican Church) in
Weatherford for almost 60 years, where Bob served as an acolyte, vestry member, Sunday School teacher, and any other job nobody else would
take. Bob was the embodiment of Philippians 2:3-5 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus.”
Bob leaves behind his wife, Anne Newberry Bergman; one daughter, Elizabeth Bozzell of Weatherford, and her children Catherine Bozzell Smith
and husband, Nick, of Joshua, and Carrie Cashman, and granddaughter, Halee Cashman, of Weatherford; son John D. Bergman and wife, Nancy,
of Midland, and their children, Brett, Ellen and Anne; son, Bill Bergman and wife, Melissa, of Midland, and children, Drew, Grant and Spencer.
Bob was preceded in death by his grandson, James Wilson Bozzell, Jr.