Robert Franklin Bivens

He had forgotten his accomplishments. He couldn’t remember what a good husband and funny dad he was. He could no longer recall our names but was always able to tell us he loved us.

He was born and grew up in Beckley, West Virginia, the son of Frank Commadore Bivens and Elizabeth French Bivens, born 1939. He pursued his education in dentistry at University of Louisville, where he met and married his wife, Margaret Rabold Bivens at school. He had to meet her after watching her walk up the stairs of the library. He thought she had the most beautiful set of legs and that was it!

They married in Jacksonville, Florida where he served in the Navy for four years. After serving in the Navy, he decided on Elizabethtown, Kentucky to set up his dental practice. They bought their first house on the end of Browns Lane. The perfect neighborhood full of children, big yards and wonderful memories to give his two children, a set of twins, Randy and Beth.

He loved bush hogging on his farm and chewing tobacco. He loved Jack Daniels and a good cigar. He was a jokester and professional jump scarer. Halloween was his favorite holiday for that reason and getting his old Frankenstein mask out.

He knew he wanted to be a dentist at 10 years old after writing a report about a career for school. He would carve teeth out of chalk as a kid pretending to be what he later became. And always bragged that this talent was what helped him pass his exam to get his dental license.

During his career, he gave time to do dental work for the Hardin County Jail and assisted the coroner on a few interesting cases. He was a member of the local Lions Club.

After retiring, he loved sitting on his back porch, enjoying his birds and playing a game of what clouds look like with his two grandsons. He enjoyed camping and fishing trips on his pontoon boat with his son and grandsons as well.

Bob was preceded in death by his son, Robert “Randy” Bivens, a grandson, Jacob Tilton Bivens; his parents, Frank and Libbie; a sister, Katie and a half brother, Michael.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret “Maggie’ Bivens; his daughter, Beth A. Throop of Elizabethtown; two grandchildren, Collin and Parker Throop; a half-brother, Frank; half-sister, Laura.

Visitation will be Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.

A graveside service will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Bowling Green.