Robert Thomas Tullos, Jr

It is with broken hearts that the Tullos family shares this news.

On September 5, 2026, Robert “Bob” Thomas Tullos Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at the age of 79. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Robert lived a life filled with his family, reading an extensive book collection, woodworking, waiting hand-and-foot on several Papillion dogs, and spending time among the company of countless friends.

Born in Waterproof, Louisiana, on June 21, 1947, to the late Robert Thomas Tullos Sr. and Ninnie Miller Tullos, Bob spent his early years working on the family dairy farm where he would develop his lifelong love of reading and sense of mischief. He was often known to pair the two hobbies by conning cousins into doing chores so he could sneak away to the traveling bookmobile. He returned from every trip to the bookmobile with more books than he could hold.

After graduating from Waterproof High School, Bob entered the U.S. Army at age 21. While in the army, Bob served in the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, Americal Division. It was during his service that Bob distinguished himself as an adept soldier and strong leader. During an intense two-day battle in Quang Tin Province, Bob put himself in harm’s way to try and rescue his fellow soldiers, but was critically injured. At the end of his time in the 1/46th, Bob had earned the Bronze Star with an oak cluster for valor, the Purple Heart, and a Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

Despite his injuries and long recovery, Bob kept his sense of humor. While hospitalized in Japan, Bob convinced a fellow soldier that he lost his foot not to an explosive round, but to a foot-long grasshopper, the kind only to be found in the jungles of Vietnam.

Once recovered from his injuries, Bob continued his education at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute — now known as Louisiana State University — where his love of reading also grew into an explosive love of learning, particularly engineering and physics. Engineering brought him into a long career in manufacturing, where he served as a production supervisor for Maybelline in central Arkansas. It was there that he met his wife, Brenda Oglesby. The two married on March 14, 1981, and spent the next several years in Little Rock, Arkansas with their beloved poodles Mike and Ike.

After the birth of Elizabeth Michelle Tullos in 1990, the family relocated to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for Bob’s work at Cumberland Swan. During his 35 years in Murfreesboro, Bob continued his love of learning, engineering, and woodworking. It was also during this time that Bob fell in love with the Papillion breed of dog. Missy, Sugar, Sweetie, and Bella kept Bob’s retired life full over the years; when he wasn’t making any excuse to take one of his pups on a doggy ride, he could often be found waiting on them hand and foot. Bob cherished his little companions and loved them fiercely.

In 2024, Bob was promoted to “Papa” with the birth of his grandson, Henry Robert Tullos Jones. It is still early to tell, but Henry seems to have inherited Bob’s sense of mischief in addition to his name.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents Robert Thomas Tullos Sr. and Ninnie Miller Tullos; sisters Lois Goodwin, Stella Wilson Ballard, and Elaine Maxwell Reese; and brother, J.A. Wilson. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Brenda Tullos; daughter Elizabeth Tullos; son-in-law John Sims-Jones; and grandson Henry Jones.

Services will be held at Woodfin Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 5:00PM Visitation will be held from 4:00PM to 5:00PM Graveside services will follow on Sunday, September 13th, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot, Arkansas.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to your local animal shelter.