Robert “Bob” Edgar Hand, Sr., 83, of Gastonia passed away suddenly on Sunday July 19, 2020. Bob was a resident at Morningside in Gastonia. Bob was a devoted Southern Baptist and a member of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, Greensboro, North Carolina. He held multiple positions in his church including Chairman of Deacons and Sunday school teacher. He was involved his church’s jail ministry and he participated in identifying potential new churches in Vermont and New Hampshire for the Southern Baptist Convention. He went on various mission trips including a trip to Thailand. He was trustee of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for ten years. Bob served his country proudly in the United States Navy. He was a devoted “Sea Bee.” Bob was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1957. Bob was always quick with a joke and he loved to pick and tease. Professionally, he was in the commercial heating and air conditioning business and a long time employee of York International. Bob will be dearly missed by his family and friends and all that knew and loved him.
Bob is the son of the late Martha Idell (Hill) and Augustus Hand. His sisters, Betty (Hand) Cannon and Esther (Hand) Hagan and brothers, John Thomas Hand, Charles Dean Hand and Raymond A. Hand precede Robert in death.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Rosemary (Pate) Hand, and sons, Robert “Ed” Hand, Jr. and his wife Cheryl of Gastonia, Raymond “Ray” Isaac Hand and his wife Tammy of Redington Shores Florida and Reverend Randolph “Randy” Pate Hand and his wife Jennifer of Liberty, North Carolina. Missing their grandfather are his grandchildren, Amanda Kelli Hand, Stephen Michael Hand, Raymond Isaac Hand II, Sarah Elizabeth Hand “Izzy”, Joshua Pate Hand, Sandra Rose Hand, Jessica Marie Hand and Naomi Grace Hand. Bob leaves behind his sisters, Joyce Parks of Maine and Judy Hand of South Carolina.
A Graveside Service with committal and military honors by the United States Navy will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday July 24, 2020 at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1565 Oakland Road, Forest City, North Carolina. Reverend Randy Hand will offer words of encouragement and hope to the family and friends that gather to remember Bob.
Fond memories of Bob and condolences for the family may be left at www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s name to The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 120 South Wingate Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587 or https://www.sebts.edu/alumni-and-friends/friends/give.aspx.
The staff of Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park is honored to serve the Hand family.
