Robert "Bob" Lewis Waters II

Bob graduated from T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville in 1965. He attended Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and DeKalb College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bob served in the United States Army. He also was a member of the Iredell County Burial Detail and the American Legion Post 65 Honor Guard, providing respectful, dignified military honors for numerous service members who went on before him. Bob worked for Bell South and AT&T in Atlanta and North Carolina for 31 years, and served as the Southeast Project Manager for Invensys on FAA Critical Power Replacement.

In 1969, Bob married his wife, Barbara Ann Sluder Waters. In 1977, they welcomed a son, his namesake, Robert “Rob” Lewis Waters, III into the world.

A stubborn, irreverent, and caring man, Bob lived his faith as a Christian and carried himself with a steady devotion to what mattered most to him. He believed in many things, but “God, Family, Country” were his focus, and he wore a wristband as a constant reminder—sharing identical wristbands with many who held those same sentiments. He will forever be remembered as “A Good Man.”

Bob enjoyed target shooting and was an avid photographer, particularly of waterfalls and flowers. He also gave generously of his time to others through service and leadership. Bob was a practitioner of Freemasonry and a member of Mt. Moriah #690 Lodge in Statesville, North Carolina. He was involved with the Masonic Order since 1990 and served as the Grand Master of Lodge #690 in 1996. He coached several elementary soccer teams, was extensively involved with the Boy Scouts of America, and was a member of the Statesville Kiwanis Club for several years. Bob was also a member of American Legion Post 65, where he served as the Commander of the Honor Guard.

Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Sluder Waters of Statesville, North Carolina; and his son, Robert “Rob” Lewis Waters, III (Laura Haythorn Waters) of Cary, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Alice Moss Waters; his father, Robert Lewis Waters, Sr.; his sister, Audrey Waters; his brothers, Daniel Waters and Michael Waters; and his grandparents, Gertie Miriam Watson Moss (Zebulon Vance Moss) and Fannie Kepart Waters (Lafayette Waters).

The family will receive friends at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville, North Carolina, on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Bill Troutman officiating. Following his memorial service, military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 65 and Masonic Rites will be conducted by the Free and Accepted Masonic Order.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1901 Brunswick Ave #100, Charlotte, North Carolina 28207 (cancer.org/dignitymemorial), to the American Heart Association, 5445 77 Center Drive, Suite 60, Charlotte, NC 28217 (www.heart.org), or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)

Messages of sympathy and words of condolences may be shared with the family, online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Waters and his family.