Robert R. Aillet
A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert R. “Bobby” Aillet will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shreveport.
Interment will follow in Forest Park Cemetery, on St. Vincent Avenue. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 4, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Father Matthew Long.
Bobby was born on January 28, 1928, to Joseph Rouget Aillet and Ruby Marie Comeaux Aillet in Youngsville, and passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 29, 2021, in Shreveport.
Bobby was a 1950 graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He also attended the United States Naval Academy. Bobby was a registered Civil Engineer in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, and a founder and principal of the consulting engineering firm of Aillet, Fenner, Jolly and McClelland, Inc.
He enjoyed membership in many professional societies, associations and councils, often serving as president of these organizations. Bobby was honored as the Louisiana Tech University Distinguished Civil Engineering Alumnus in 1992.
Not only did Bobby excel in his professional endeavors, but met with great success and satisfaction on the football field where he spent much time playing the game he loved, later excelling as a top ranked Southeastern Conference official.
He also served on many boards to support sports in the community helping establish the local chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, as well as served in many capacities with the Independence Bowl Foundation. Bobby was inducted into Louisiana Tech University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, an honor he shared with his beloved father, Coach Joe Aillet.
Louisiana Tech University had a great supporter in Bobby. For his exceptional efforts, he was honored as Alumnus of the Year in 1989, Centennial Distinguished Alumnus 1994, and received the prestigious Tower Medallion in 1999.
Bobby and his wife Dorothy were founding members of St. Joseph Catholic Church and provided a Catholic family foundation. His faith was nurtured throughout his life, and was a cornerstone for our family. Dad had true joy in raising his family and remained engaged until his final days.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy Adams Aillet; brother, Richard Sanford; infant son, Mark Aillet; and grandson, Albert Moore “Trey” Hand. His legacy lives on in those left to cherish his memory. Bobby is survived by his eight children and their families, Melanie Hand and husband Al, Robert Aillet, Jr. and wife Jeanne, Richard Aillet, Cynthia Pettiette and husband David, Jerelyn Vandewater and husband Mike, Minette Gilbert and husband Jim, Joseph Aillet and wife Julie, Denise Landry and husband Brian; grandchildren, Brandon Aillet, Kristen Crawley, Jordan Aillet, Robert Hand, Mark Hand, Minette Hand, Amy Ostendorff, Elizabeth Ardoin, Lauren Lee Schewel, David Pettiette, Jr., Juliana Pettiette, Alan Vandewater, Ashley Huckaby Respondek, Mary Margaret Edmonson, Meredith Riggs, Rebecca Mott, Rachel Aillet, Olivia Landry, Brian Landry, Adam Landry; 23 great-grandchildren; sister, Cynthia Aillet Murry and many nieces and nephews.
Honoring Bobby as pallbearers will be his eight grandsons and great-grandson, Noah Huckaby. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Randy Beauclair, Carrell Dowies, Dick Hall, Bo Harris, Harold Johnson, Curt Joiner, Leo Sanford and Pete Williams.
His children would like to express special thanks to Preferred Care At Home and his caregiver, Tracy, who helped care for Dad with much attention and compassion and to Dr. Alan J. Borne, MD, for his exceptional medical care.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Joe Aillet Endowed Scholarship at www.latechalumn.org/ailletscholarship, or to the Louisiana Orphan Train Society, Inc., P.O. Box 729, Opelousas, LA 70571. He will be forever in our hearts and we will honor him all the days of our lives.
