Robert "Bobby" Louis Hinnant

Bob was born to James Bryant Hinnant and Adelaide (Gallagher) Hinnant in 1930 in Wilmington, North Carolina, the third and last of three brothers. He was raised there and graduated from New Hanover High School. In his childhood, during the Great Depression, the family moved from one address to another to save $1 monthly on rent. During his early adult years, he enjoyed water skiing at Wrightsville Beach.

Bob served in the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1953 as a radio operator. He then attended and graduated from the University of South Carolina. Among other roles and activities in Bob's life, he was a licensed airplane pilot and a ham radio operator.

In 1957, he married Carole Ann Nance of Wilmington. He was impressed with her from their first date when unsolicited, she leaped from his car to help him attach an outboard motor to his boat, the "PoHo." Two children were born to that marriage, Robin Lynn Hinnant in 1961 and Monalisa Carole Hinnant in 1964.

Bob spent his career as a marine underwriter. He was stationed at Montgomery (Alabama), New York City, Atlanta, Birmingham, and finally, Charlotte, beginning in 1972, where he remained until his passing. He spent a large portion of his career as an employee of the firm Johnson & Higgins. His interests included, unsurprisingly, motor boating and sailing. He continued in his occupation into his 80's. During his long career, Bob became well-known and respected within his occupation. Whenever he undertook a task, he approached it as a true craftsman, with attention and dedication to every detail.

Carole, an independent personality with a sharp wit and sense of humor, was also a loving wife and mother. She dealt with a brain tumor for the last 17 years of her life, and Bob was ever the loving, devoted, and attentive husband. She died in 1995, and Bob did not remarry.

As devoted as he was to his wife, he was also to his daughters, caring for them through health issues, while also traveling with them throughout the Carolinas and even to Europe. Robin predeceased Bob in 2019.

His interests in his later years included a passion for tennis; he spent many hours on the courts of the Olde Providence Racquet Club near his home in Charlotte. He also enjoyed his beloved schnauzers, Nikki, Alex, and Danny, in succession. At the age of 71, he bought a motorcycle and acquired a new nickname: "Biker Bob." He continued to ride into his mid 80's. And he also traveled in his full-length motor home. In Charlotte, Bob attended St. John's Episcopal Church and later Mouzon United Methodist Church.

Bob was well known for his dry, understated wit and his sense of humor, along with an incredible memory of every detail of his loved ones’ lives. He leaves behind his daughter Monalisa (Charlotte), who provided attentive and loving care to him in his last years, staying by his side to the very end; his niece Christine Hinnant Weiss (Jeff) of Charlotte; nephew Lee Louis Hinnant (Melbourne, Florida); grand nieces Victoria, Hannah, and Sadie Weiss, and his grand-nephew Douglas Alan Hinnant (Brooklyn, New York). Also surviving him are his niece Kym Croom (Greensboro) and nephew Keith Croom (Kelly) in Fayetteville.

Bob was devoted to family, friends, and faith. He had a steadfast and profound belief in God and lived his life accordingly.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in Charlotte on Saturday, February 10, beginning with a graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park, 5716 Monroe Road, at 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at Christ Episcopal Church,1412 Providence Road, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception following in the Green Room. McEwen Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.