Rondey Lee Wootton

Rondey Lee Wootton passed away December 5th 2025. Known to all by his initials R.L., he was a gregarious character who met most people with humor and a dry wit.  
He was born to Charles Wootton and Birdy Tackett in Lewisville, Arkansas on December 5, 1950, and raised in Arcola, Texas. He graduated from Alvin High School, with considerable help from his high school sweetheart and eventual wife of 54 years, Barbara Jean Corona. Together they created a beautiful family of 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren. 
R. L. became a Master Plumber by trade and proud past member of the Plumbers Local Union # 68. He worked pipeline from the Houston Ship Channel to Casper, Wyoming, commercial construction for Kellogg Brown & Root, and built a small residential plumbing business before moving to East Texas in 1983. His plumber’s motto of "other people's shit is my bread and butter" is an example of the wry, bordering on inappropriate humor and “good time Charley” vibe he injected into groups, events and family functions. In East Texas, he entered the plant nursery and trucking business with Tipton Plant Farm, Powell Farms, and the Jordan Family, all while helping care for a family parcel of land, pine tree farm and homestead in Ponta, TX.   
Following retirement, he and Barbara embarked on a four-year RV adventure where they served as camp hosts at state and national parks from Somerville, TX to Cloudcroft, NM and Eugene, OR before returning to Texas and settling in College Station. To his neighbors in Chimney Hill subdivision and business park, he was known to be "on patrol" managing clean up duties, corralling the leaves, collecting garage sale items and helping with odd jobs for neighbors. Cantankerous to downright ornery he enjoyed antagonizing all with a morose response of "I ain’t worth a flip today" or a sarcastic "Merry Christmas" even when months away from the Holiday.
He was a begrudging and beleaguered fan of the Dallas Cowboys. A purveyor of priceless junk.  An amateur dentist. A, perhaps slightly exaggerated (almost) drummer for a famous 70’s band, and a prolific user of profanity, he despised Republicans, bankers and doctors. R.L. was no stranger to loss, having been preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Harold and Butch, and his oldest grandchild, Julia Jean. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his sons and daughter in laws, Chad & Chrissie, Gabe & Ashley, and Brett & Susan, as well as his grandchildren Lillie, Gus, Marcus and James, his elder sister, Ada Wofford, and numerous friends and extended family. 
A celebration of life will be scheduled for Spring 2026.  In lieu of flowers or food delivery, the family requests gifts be made to the Aggieland Humane Society, www.aggielandhumane.org, or your favorite charity in memory of R.L.
Please visit www.hillierfuneralhome.com to share deepest condolences and expressions of gratitude R.L. and a life well lived.