Robert "Rusty" Tubbs

Robert “Rusty” E. Tubbs departed this life on September 8, 2021, surrounded by his wife and loving family.  Rusty spent his last days in the dream home he and his wife Retha built in the country, sitting on the back porch looking out at his land, horses, and cattle.

Rusty spent his early years on his family’s dairy farm in Jonah and graduated from Georgetown High School with the Class of ’65.  Rusty continued his education his at his beloved Texas A&M and later at Sam Houston State University, where he met the love of his life, Retha Reed.  In 1971, he married the beautiful young lady from Liberty Hill and together they started their family in Austin.  As their family grew, Rusty and Retha moved from Austin to Pflugerville.  After college, Rusty worked with his father at Tubbs Real Estate selling farm and ranch properties all across Central Texas. Then, in 1989, Rusty began a 20-year career within the Corrections Division of the Travis County Sheriff’s Department, and ultimately retired a Sergeant in 2008.
Although it was hard to discern at times whether it was truly a vocation or an avocation, Rusty was an extremely dedicated baseball and softball coach for Pflugerville Little Leagues. He could often be found at the little league field either coaching, umpiring games, or often engaged in a passionate rant for the recognition and funding of the girls’ softball program.  One of Rusty’s proudest achievements was coaching a combined Pflugerville/Elgin softball team to the Little League State Tournament in 1989 - a first for both communities. As the kids grew older, Rusty “retired” from coaching and returned to his cowboy roots, where he and his sister, Gail spent many weekends at team penning and sorting events.

Throughout his entire life, hunting and fishing were an integral part of Rusty’s time with friends and family. Although he hunted all over Texas, he often dreamed of going to Argentina for a hunting expedition. As his grandchildren grew, Rusty lived for the times he could share his love of hunting and fishing with them, taking many weekends with them deep-sea fishing, filling deer feeders, and simply out looking for deer with his son and oldest grandchildren.  He couldn’t wait until his younger grandchildren, Sean and Ramsay were old enough to share in the same adventures.

He was preceded in death by both his parents, Lavoy and Audrey “Jerry” Tubbs and his sister, Gail Tubbs.

Rusty is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Retha, his three children Laura Tubbs, Kevin Tubbs and wife, Selene, and Lindsay Tubbs; his five grand-children, Reed, Lilly, Zoey, Sean, and Ramsay.

Family and Friends will gather for Visitation at Elgin Funeral Home, Sunday, September 12th from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM.  A Funeral Service will be conducted at Elgin Funeral Home, Monday, September 13th at 10:00 AM with Chaplain Tommy McIntosh presiding.  Interment will follow at Jonah Cemetery.