1921
Robert
2013
Robert Watson Mobley
June 21, 1921 — May 19, 2013
Robert was a Navy Supply Officer, serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II, when he met his wife, Marie Helminger, on the island of Saipan.Marie, born and raised in Wisconsin, was an Army nurse with the 75th Field Hospital. After their discharge, Robert and Marie traveled to Houston, Texas, to be married on March 8, 1946. They returned to Girard, GA, where Robert became the proprietor of the family farming operation, the Burke County Peanut Company and the family fertilizer company.He also raised cattle.Robert and Marie were married for 61 years at the time of Marie's death in 2007.
Known as a strong advocate for education, Robert was instrumental in the development of Edmund Burke Academy in Waynesboro, GA.He served on the EBA board from its inception in 1972 until 1982. In the early years of the school, Robert purchased a school bus to help transport children to EBA from Girard and Sardis, and he and Marie made a significant donation toward the construction of the new school building shortly before Marie's death in 2007. Robert noted at the time that the Burke County community has been good to his family, offering support when his grandson, former EBA student Watson Mobley, was paralyzed from a spinal injury in February 2006 and then again when his son, John, died from cancer. He considered his gift as a payback to the community that he loved. He was quoted in The True Citizen as saying "People may not feel as strongly as I do, but it's my belief we need a good education, a good foundation for our young people. We have tried to do that at EBA.How can you do better than to give your children and grandchildren a good education?"
Eight of Robert and Marie's twelve children graduated from EBA, four as valedictorian, one left for college at the end of her junior year, all his children attended college, and ten of their twelve children attended the University of Georgia, his alma mater - possibly, the greatest number of children from one family to attend the University of Georgia.
Robert became an avid golfer after he retired, many times playing several times a week at the Waynesboro Country Club.He greatly enjoyed playing golf with his sons, grandsons, and friends.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, and his son, John Joseph. Robert will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend.
Robert is survived by his sister Elizabeth (Lib) Mobley Connor, of Greensboro, NC and his children and their spouses, Robert Mobley Jr. and Pauline Beard of Waynesboro, Ga., Dr. Mary Mobley of North Augusta, SC., Dr. Michael Mobley and Debbie Mobley of Savannah, Ga., Margaret and Tom Fisher of North Augusta, SC. Dr. Kathleen Mobley and Dr. Aziz Al'Khafaji of New Port Richey, Fla., Anne Mobley of Birmingham, Michigan, Elizabeth Mobley of Savannah, James and Deborah Mobley of Waynesboro, William and Laura Mobley of Waynesboro., Joan and Tommy Nelson of Evans, Ga., and David Mobley of Waynesboro; daughter-in-law, Joy Mobley, of Decatur, Ga.; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
During Robert's lifetime, he gathered around him a faithful group of friends. The family would like to thank them for sharing his journey, and particularly for supporting him after Marie passed away.
The family will receive friends from 5- 8 p.m. on Friday May 24, 2013, at DeLoach-McKerley Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, with Rev. Wayne Dixon and Father Dominique Duggins officiating. Interment follows at Burke Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are, Roy Jenkins, Robert Mobley, Jr., Dr. Michael Mobley, William Mobley, James Mobley, David Mobley, Edward Hoard and Jessie Robbins. Honorary Pallbearers are, members of the Bi-Lo Coffee Club, members of the "round table" at Mobley's Cafeteria, and members of his 1pm golf friends at Waynesboro Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Edmund Burke Academy, P.O. Box 787, Waynesboro, GA 30830.
DeLoach-McKerley Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 842 N. Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706-554-3531).
You may sign the family's personal guestbook at www.deloachfuneralhomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Watson Mobley, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Funeral Service
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
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