Robert Eugene Ivy

Robert Eugene Ivy of Hoover, AL passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, August 14th, 2021. He was 93 years young & and then some. Everyone who knew him loved him. He was most often just called Bob, but church friends at Bluff Park UMC dubbed him Mr. Bob, his favorite son in law affectionately called him Bobaroo and our cousins knew him as Fearless Bob! Lots of good stories there…

Bob was born to Charles A Ivy & Mae Frost Ivy on November 22, 1927. He had four siblings and they lived and grew up in Fairview and Ensley areas. He was preceded in death by both his parents, along with siblings Ralph Ivy (Kay), Carl Ivy (Frances), Nora Nash (Horace), and James Ivy (Mary). He is survived by his son Ray Ivy, daughter Julie Ivy White (Steve), two grandsons William Robert White (Warren) and Adam Russell (Meredith), and two great grandchildren Henry Hunter and Ivy Russell.

In 1945, Bob graduated from Ensley High School, where he was a stand-out athlete. His senior year, he captained his football team to a city championship. According to him - the only sport he didn't letter in was track & field.

Bob joined the US Army in 1945 and served overseas in Japan just as World War II was ending. He then returned to B'ham and attended the University of Alabama on the GI Bill, receiving his undergraduate degree in Business. He was an enthusiastic member of Delta Chi fraternity and visited the frat house in Tuscaloosa before Bama games through the late 60’s to catch up with old friends. Bob moved to Auburn in the early ‘50s and opened Jake’s Joint, a fast-food diner, primarily to financially help his brother James finish college there. Love just doesn’t get much stronger than this, for obvious reasons…!

Bob and Ann met in Birmingham in the late ‘50s and were married in 1960. They were active members of the Birmingham Jaycees for a number of years during this period. Ray was born in 1961 and Julie in 1963.

During college, Bob spent summers lifeguarding down in Panama City, along with his brothers. It might have been here that his love of fishing blossomed! He and brother Carl were very close and loved to fish together. They fished every chance they could, fresh water, salt water, it didn’t matter as long as they were fishing. When Bob’s son Ray and Carl’s son Dan were old enough to lift a rod, they were included in most fishing trips through the years. Bob and Ray spent many a day fishing for bass and crappie on lakes and ponds in Alabama, as well as for speckled trout around Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island and red snapper and grouper on charter boats out of Panama City and Destin.

Bob had a lifelong love for sports, both participating and watching. He enjoyed golf and played often around Birmingham in the ‘50s and ‘60s. One highlight was hitting a hole-in-one on a par 3 at Highland Golf Course. He was a HUGE Alabama football fan and loved going to games and watching them on TV. He organized the Ivy clan for a trip to the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1979 in New Orleans with no tickets in hand and was able to finagle tickets for everyone to see that historic game. Bob also loved helping kids and coached boys’ basketball at Dawson Baptist Church for many years.

Bob invested his working career in the commercial interior design/furniture industry. He worked in downtown Birmingham for Bodine, Bryson and Rolling during the ‘60s, 70’s and ‘80’s, then at Lindsey Office Furnishings in the ‘90s prior to retiring in 1999.

Bob was a selfless, considerate man, father, and friend who had an easygoing personality, a wonderful sense of humor, and the biggest smile in town! He loved God, his family, and country.

His celebration service is planned for Saturday, August 21 at 1:00 PM at Bluff Park United Methodist Church. 733 Valley Street, Hoover, AL 35226. Visitation starts at 12:30 and cake & ice cream will be served afterwards.