Robert Samuel Barden

Robert “Bob” Barden, 78, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025. A beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, brother, teacher, and friend, Bob’s life was marked by generosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others.

Born to Cabell and Nora Barden on March 27, 1947, Bob spent his life nurturing growth, whether in the classroom, his garden, or the hearts of those around him. He was a dedicated high school teacher at Cape Fear High School, where he inspired generations of students with not only knowledge but kindness, humor, and patience.

Outside of the classroom, Bob had a love for life’s simple joys. He was an avid gardener, a lover of bluegrass music, a skilled woodworker, and a proud chicken keeper. He also co-hosted a local bluegrass radio show, sharing his passion for music with the wider community. His hands were always busy creating, growing, or giving.

Bob believed deeply in service. He volunteered his time with numerous organizations, including Guardian ad Litem, Boys and Girls Club, hospice care, No One Dies Alone, Teen Court, and peer mediation programs in both Robeson and Cumberland counties. His selflessness touched countless lives.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Sara Smith Barden; his stepdaughter, Samantha Torres; his grandson, Sebastian Munevar; his brother-in-law, Michael Smith; and his siblings, Ronnie Barden and Margret Ann Barden. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cabell and Nora Barden, and his brother, Leroy Barden.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home in Hope Mills, NC. Friends and loved ones are invited to come, share memories, and honor a life so well lived.

Bob’s legacy is one of kindness, service, and love. In his memory, let us strive to lift others as he did so often.

“It's not what you gather, it's what you scatter.”