Robert Eugene Fletcher

A resident of Williamsburg Retirement Center in Baton Rouge, Bob died on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was born in Columbus, Miss., on Dec. 16, 1919, to Irene Hobbs and John James Fletcher. Bob was a decorated World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, having received a Bronze Star Medal for his valor in the South Pacific when his ship, the LST 477, was severely damaged by a kamikaze aircraft. On his return from the war, he married Elaine Keating, his bride of 64 years, and raised his family in Baton Rouge. He was retired from Consolidated Marketing, formerly Louisiana Paper Co. He is survived by his children, Leslie Carroll and husband Mike, Jimmy Fletcher and wife Vonnie, and Cathy Fairchild and husband Houston, all of Baton Rouge, and Tom Fletcher, of Magog, Quebec, and partner, Stephane St. Jean, of Montreal; grandchildren, Amy Webb and husband Don, Wendy Singleton and husband Eddie, Matthew and Christopher Carroll, Katie and Casey Fletcher, Vanessa Richard and husband Brian, Joey and Joshua Fairchild; great-grandchildren, Reece and Aubrey Singleton and Caroline Richard; and brother, Eddie Fletcher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; son, Robert E "Rusty" Fletcher Jr.; his parents; a sister, Helen FletcherWhite; and brothers, Joe and James. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Sunday, Nov. 15, was from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitation at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Ave., on Monday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. until funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Interment at Roselawn Cemetery on North Street. Special thanks to Dr. Morris, Dr. Fields and Dr. Landry, critical care nurses Randi, Burt, Matt and James, as well as the staff and residents of Williamsburg. Pallbearers will be Joey and Josh Fairchild, Matthew and Christopher Carroll, Don Webb, Eddie Singleton, Brian Richard and Johnny Fletcher. Honorary pallbearer is Jack Jackson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center or Cancer Services of Baton Rouge.