Name: Dunbar Funeral Home
Address: Columbia, SC

Bobby was my freshman year roommate at Ole Miss back in 1959 and 1960.  We had met at orientation during the previous summer and had become friends.  He had a little Simca automobile that he used to transport us around to various places.  I recall spending one weekend at his home in Clarksdale with his gracious parents.  I often wondered about Bobby's life after college.  So glad to hear that he had two sons.

I had a conversation with Bob shortly before his death. I needed his help for analyzing a literary text. He held my arm a drew close and whispered to me, "Don't tell anybody else your idea. Now we'll be co-conspirators!" Then he laughed that room-filling laugh of his and cheered everybody's day.  He was always ready to help and always ready for a laugh. I sure do miss him.

Charles Israel

My heart goes out to you and your family on the loss of your husband and father. As I knew him, he was always upbeat, smiling,  and looking forward to engaging in an interesting conversation. He had a great enthusiasm for life, and I know you will miss him terribly. I'll be thinking of you as you work through this difficult transition in your own lives. 

As a doctoral student from the College of Education in hopes of completing an outside cognate in computer science, I am eternally grateful to Dr. Oakman for meeting me where I was as a student and enabling me to master, at my own pace, the content and processes of two doctoral level courses.  What I learned from him was how it feels, as a student with a learning deficit, to be accepted, mentored, not made to feel “less than,” and to ultimately succeed. Our world needs more Dr. Oakmans. He will be missed!

Bob's intelligence, wit, and wide interests always enlivened our weekly luncheons.

Bob Oakman came to USC about 50 years ago, and we met a little while later. Interested in university and academic matters, we became friends. In time he became an important intellectual and social friend. He was well read and brightened our crowd with his infectious sense of humour. He will be missed.

I was in my third year of graduate school when Bob joined the English faculty in the late 1960s. He was spending much of his time in computer science during those early years, so I didn't see much of him until I joined the English faculty in the '70s. We talked often at parties and shared experiences of growing up in the South in the 50s and 60s. Later, when Bob became the graduate director, we had much business discussing graduate courses and composing grad comprehensive exams.  Bob was always helpful and seemed to wear a perpetual smile.  Working with him was a pleasure. Later, when we both neared retirement, we spoke often about travels we were planning.  I really got to know Bob well when we formed a Monday afternoon drinking and discussion group at Yesterday's Pub.  We found we had much to discuss: literature, culture, politics. I will always cherish those gatherings and discussions.  He was a man of integrity and always considered the feelings and needs of others. I will sorely miss his presence in my life.


Betsy,
              We were shocked  to hear about Bob’s death. So glad we talked at Karen’s party the first week of January. 
               Karen and I will visit you soon.    
             

Dear Betsy, Jeffrey, and Jonathan,
It seems like yesterday that we were picking up the boys from Emily Douglas Park kindergarten. Fortunately our children brought us together as friendships grew.  Bob was family man, scholar and wonderful teacher. We celebrate his life and send condolences to you all.
Love, Randall and Susan Bridwell

I am proud to say that Bob Oakman was my friend. I appreciated his intellect, his conversation and our shared love of Victorion literature. I will miss his erudite and sparkling company.

Dear Betsy, Jeffrey, and Jonathan,
Please accept my deep condolences on the passing of your husband and father.  Bob started working in digital humanities before the name and the field became popular. He took the reins of the computer science department during a difficult transition to a new college and helped carry it out successfully.  He was a positive and encouraging influence as a senior colleague when I joined the Department of Computer Science in 1988, always honestly sharing his wisdom.  I will forever be grateful to him.  May he rest in peace.
Marco Valtorta

We were very sad to hear about Bob Oakman's passing.  We had a special connection to him (for over 40 years) because of Indiana University----the graduate school we all attended.  We shared many wonderful times together---celebrating birthdays, at the coast, etc .    He had so many wide-ranging  interests that it is hard to believe.  Although he was a Victorian scholar, he was the true Renaissance man.  We will miss our get togethers and we wish for peace to comfort the family in the future days.   We express our sincere sympathies and are grateful that we knew Bob over many years.--------------Bill and Jane Thesing

Bob was such a nice guy, and I really liked him.  I'm so sorry he's gone.  Please accept my sincere condolences.

I met Bob in 1980 when I became Director of the Writing Center in the University of SC’s Department of English. For the next 15 years when I was there at USC, we were great friends. We co-edited EDIT!, a software program for revising and editing during the process of writing any text in 1991.  He was a great scholar and administrator, well loved by undergraduate and graduate students.  We had numerous lunches and dinners, had much camaraderie with his wife, Betsy, and the twin sons, a lovely family to whom  I offer my condolences. Bob will be greatly missed by friends and colleagues. I especially enjoyed my last visit with him on December 29 at a mutual friend and colleague’s  birthday dinner. Bob was in great form that evening, reminiscing our over 40 years of friendship. Tom Waldrep

Kevin and I recently enjoyed dinner at the Salisbury Pub in Covent Garden, London and remembered that Bob, always a traveling man, had recommended it to us in the early eighties.  In 1989 we visited Betsy, Bob, Jonathan, and Jeffrey in Bamberg, Germany where they spent a year. Soon after, we met Bob and Betsy for an exciting  holiday in Prague. The most recent conversation I had with Bob was about Southern Spain where he hoped to spend the Christmas Holidays with his family.  Bob and Betsy have always been inveterate travelers and we will miss his vast knowledge on the best places to visit, the best food to eat, and the best books to read when traveling. 

Much love to Betsy, Jeffrey and Jonathan, and family from Becky and Kevin


I knew Bob Oakman for more than 50 years. Betsy and Bob and Judy and I arrived in Columbia, SC,  in 1968, and Bob and I were colleagues in the Department of English for decades. The four of us frequently socialized and went to most of the basketball games together at the old Carolina Coliseum both during and after the great and exciting era of Coach Frank McGuire.

When we were both administrators  in the English Department, Bob always offered me sage and sane advice. For decades after that period we conversed about all manner of things literary, cultural, and political. Bob was a true intellectual--extraordinarily well-read, rational , and articulate.  He was one of my best friends and is and will be sorely missed. 

May Bob rest in peace, and my heartfelt condolences to Betsy, Jeffrey, Jonathan,  and the rest of Bob's family. 

George Geckle

 

Dear Betsy, Jeffrey, and Jonathan,
I'm trying to get used to a world without Bob Oakman, Bobby Lee as we liked to call him. What a wonderful man. Brilliant and fun and always helpful. I remember so well that when George asked me to direct Freshmen English, I had such doubts about being able to do it. Bob always encouraged me, always told me I had whatever I needed to succeed. His support meant so much. 
My condolences for your great loss, love Carolyn

To Family & Friends

As Bob's only sibling, my past memories of "Bobby" in earlier life are mostly light & nostalgic, yet ever precious.  I think about our mother helping my older brother get dressed for the high school dance with a stylish thin pink belt and donning new loafers with pink socks.  The 1950's were a magical time in northwest Mississippi and we loved all of it.

It is common knowledge that Bob as an adult was a classic academician.  Many may know that Bob was salutatorian of his college class at the University of Mississippi but few might know that he missed valedictorian because of making a "D" in Golf.  If the world can be divided into Brain & Brawn, all in South Carolina know that Bob was a standard-bearer for Brain.

Enough for my lighter view of the past.  In today's world. what we need is more people like Bob Oakman.  He was an honest sincere family man with a supportive wife of the same qualities who jointly reared and remained devoted to two fine sons & their families.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Despite Bob and my infrequent times of actual togetherness, we were always emotionally bonded.  From my home in Texas, I truly miss Bob and am thinking about his Oakman family at this time of loss for all.

May he rest in peace.

Jerry Oakman. M.D.

Dear Betsy, 
I'm remembering our days chasing little boys around the neighborhood. I was so sorry to hear of Bob's death. Thinking of you and the boys today. Our love to you.   Jackie and Patton


Dear Mrs. Oakman & Sons,
I worked with Dr. Oakman at USC, Department of Computer Science.  He holds a special place in my heart.  I will hold on to the many beautiful memories I have of him.  So sorry for your lost.  Praying for comfort at this time.

Dear Betsy,
Just heard about Bob and I am heartbroken. We chatted on Sunday and as always he was full of humor and sweetness. Know that I am thinking about you and your sons and grandchildren during this stressful time. I am grateful that I got to see both of you recently. Will miss Bob and know that you can count of me if you need anything.
Love, Lala

Who knew that Monday would have been our last time conversating as we talked about you attending the USC basketball game the last think you say to me was Evelyn I can hardly  wait to see USC take this Victory , and that the doors open at 5:30 but you will be there at 5:15 .     Mr. Oakman my words to you is that You took home the VICTORY.  God bless the Oakman family, know that SPCP will always be there should you need us.
Peace Blessing and Comfort.
Evelyn McCullough

Bob was a great teacher in every respect. I will never forget how he cheerfully welcomed me in as a CS Honors instructor in 1998. As a mentor and advocate, he inspired so many of us, and asked only that we strive to be our best selves.

Bob was one of the most kind and decent men I knew in the academic world. I send my condolences to the family.

I want to send my heart-felt condolences in your loss.   To Betsy and the boys, my prayers will be with you.  This is a loss for the whole family.  At family gatherings, he was always my favorite one to visit with. I just loved his energy, intelligence, and sense of humor.  He contributed much to the educational society. He will be missed. Katie Clark 

OBITUARY

Robert Lee Oakman III

February 19, 1941 – February 10, 2020

Dunbar Funeral Home (Devine)

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