Robert Franklin Jennings

Robert Franklin Jennings (Bob) passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2021, of natural causes, at the age of ninety-three. He was surrounded by family when he took his last breath, including his wife, two daughters and a son, and two stepdaughters. Bob was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Bob became interested in machinery and mechanics at a very early age. He learned to machine tools when he was 15 years old by working in a shop fabricating tools. He was a WWII Navy veteran. He served on a mine sweeper during the war. He came to Texas after being discharged from the Navy in 1946 to take a job in Grand Prairie with the defense contractor, Chance Vought. He retired from Vought in 1984 after 38 years of service as an experimental machinist. While at Vought, he worked on many projects, including the nose of the Space Shuttle. He also owned Jennings Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in Grand Prairie, Texas, which he started in 1963. He did commercial as well as residential work. After he retired from Chance Vought, he moved to the Cypress Springs area and built a house in Kings Country. Bob was attracted to the area because of its lakes and trees. The area reminded him of Connecticut without the snow. He continued Jennings Air Conditioning and Refrigeration after his move to the Cypress Springs area and closed the business after 58 years of service. In 1992, Bob and Iva Lee Ragan Knotts married and built a new home south of Mt. Vernon. Bob and Iva Lee are members of Purley Baptist Church. Bob will be buried in Purely Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Iva Lee Jennings, his three children, Judy Jennings Spray of Dallas, Cheryl Jennings of Dallas, Robert F. Jennings, Jr. and Jacklyn Schwartz of San Diego, CA. He has three stepchildren, Marie Thomas and Donnie of Mount Pleasant, Telisa Newman and Albert of Winnsboro, and John Knotts and Carmen of Corinth. Four grandchildren, James Masten, Rachel Pfeifer, Michael Masten, and Sarah Jennings. Nine step grandchildren, Adison Young, Brad Thomas and Erin, Jill Mahan and Ryan, Wendy Rameriz and Julio, Dustin French and Keri, Whitney French, Reaghan Knotts, Sydney Knotts. and Kyndall Knotts. Four great grandchildren, Zane Pfeifer, Zevin Pfeifer, Zayden Pfeifer, and Autumn Masten. Ten step great grandchildren, Kaitlyn Luck and Tanner, Alyson Thomas, Brady Thomas, Matthew Mahan, Jackson Mahan, Owen Mahan, Julian Rameriz, Adrian Rameriz, J.J. Rameriz, and Kaden French. He was a kind man, a beloved father, a devoted husband, and a good friend. All who knew him will miss him and his big smile. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Disabled American Veterans: https://dav.org/donate.