Robert Elroy Baughn, of Pearland, Texas, passed away peacefully September 22, 2025, at the age of 85.
He was born January 31, 1940, in Chaute, KS to George and Oella Gibson. After the passing of his father, Robert was adopted at the age of 5 by B.T. Baughn, Oella’s second husband. Robert attended The Citadel in Columbia, SC, for his undergraduate studies, and upon graduation, he was commissioned to the United States Army on June 1st, 1963. He went on to earn his Master of Science from the University of Tennessee in 1966 and completed U.S. Army Medical Field Service School in 1967. In 1968, Robert received a Commendation Metal as a Captain in the Medical Service Corps.
Robert went on to receive his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati in 1975 as well as his Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University in 1980. He spent his career as a Microbiologist at the Houston V.A. Hospital Department of Infectious Disease. He was also a faculty member of the Baylor College of Medicine. After retiring from the Veteran’s Administration, he went on to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Robert was an accomplished scientist and member of the National Registry of Microbiologists. Among his numerous professional publications, he was a member of Sigma Xi, a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology and winner of the 1994 Louis Weinstein Award.
Robert is survived by his two daughters, Heather Tubbs of Katy, TX and Brenna Mays of Cypress, TX, and his younger brother, Donald of Panama City, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Rick, and his devoted wife of 58 years, Myra Baughn. Robert was also a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Robert will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at the Houston National Cemetery.