Robert Wayne Rankin

Robert Wayne Rankin, of Groesbeck, passed away at Windsor Healthcare Residence on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at age 72.

After cremation, he will be interred beside his parents in Earthman Cemetery in Houston.

Robert was born in Mexico, Missouri on October 13, 1953, to Marion Noble Rankin and Wanda Mae (Lovett) Rankin, and was the second from oldest of 8 children in the family.  He grew up in Mexico, Missouri and graduated from High School there.

As a young adult, Robert moved to New York and worked as a welder for many years, before moving to Houston where his parents had moved.

In Houston, Robert worked as a cook in hospital cafeterias and later moved to Groesbeck where his sister Kim lived. Robert worked in Groesbeck as a cook at the Groesbeck Senior Center for over twenty years before he retired.

Robert’s great interest was in cars; he could - and did – build his own cars from the ground up. He was a Mopar Dodge enthusiast and had owned Chargers and Challegers. In his youth he drove race cars, and even when not on the racetrack, he liked to drive his ‘57 Chevy really fast.

He liked to watch horror movies and especially was a fan of Godzilla and King Kong movies. He liked drawing old cartoon figures and collected dinosaur action figures. Also, he enjoyed going to the casino with his siblings.

His time in Groesbeck was enjoyed with Kim and Jon Ferguson, and Kim was a dedicated caretaker for her brother during his years with cancer.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and oldest brother, Ronald Rex Rankin.

He is survived by his two children, Chad and Dawn and their families. Also surviving are his siblings, Diana Wieberg of Missouri, Richard Rankin and girlfriend Melissa of Belton, Edie Prestwood of Groesbeck, Kimberly and husband Jon Ferguson of Groesbeck, Alma Renee Sharp of Groesbeck, and Lori and husband Alan Duque of Thornton; and many nieces and nephews.