Name: Carr & Erwin Funeral Home
Address: Pulaski, TN

As Bob's coworker at Boca Raton Utilities, I admired Bob's work ethic, humility and integrity. While fighting his illness he worked as hard as ever. He was a true gentleman and possessed all the desirable qualities of humanity. 


Grateful for the opportunity to have this time together in December 2018!  HS  Friend, Lenny Johnson

Buster and I are long-time friends. We went to school together from 1st grade until we graduated from high school.  Our Dads worked together on L&N Railroad for quite a while, until his father developed rheumatoid arthritis and had to quit.  We also went to church together when they lived near us. I remember playing hide & seek hiding under the kitchen sink with Buster in his house.  We well could have been running for our life, being watched by his older brothers, while our moms were stripping tobacco and it was too cold for us. I was working on my first job with the telephone co. when Buster and Don Rose  showed up outside the office at 10:00 PM when I walked out. I'm sure they had other plans for the evening with all those girls I worked with, but surprise. They had just joined the Air Force and were to ship out the next morning. They had no transportation and  the telephone co. had cabs lined up to take us home, so we had to go home. After he got out of the Air Force, he would come to Nashville and check on our family from time to time, even after he moved to FL.  We've continued to stay in touch with congratulations, condolences, etc. to each others family. It's extremely hard to say goodbye, so  "See you on the other side some day,"   Robbie

HOW DO I KNOW ROBERT (Bob)
Robert and I became coworkers in the early 1970's while working for Florida Power  & Light Co.  Towards the later part of 1997, we both decided to leave the company.  Bob shared with me that he had purchased a new home in Coral Springs and of the great incentives offered.  This made a huge impact on our lives.  Sure enough we became neighbors and then friends.   He being a nice guy and an electrician, worked to our advantage involving electrical projects.   During Bob's  illness, we spent more and more quality time together, becoming like brothers, sharing stories of our time spent in the military,  of family, walking the neighborhood,  sharing coffee, lunch with each other and with Ann,  Ashley and my wife Penny.   While serving in Vietnam,  I loss my twin brother who was serving in the Air Force, this left a huge void in my life for years to come.   Bob's presence filled so very much of that void.   I So often felt he was like a twin.   We will greatly miss you .   God loves you and so do we.  Charles and Penny

Many times, Bob, you made me laugh as you shared stories about life in Tennessee. The last one you shared was not in person but by text and it was short but more sobering than anything else you'd shared before.  Late on 12/20/2018 you reached out after a difficult chemo session. I didn't know what to say or do but then I thought to share with you what I have done in the past when I've been in physical or emotional pain. I suggested: "Think about something you love and enjoy. Put that in your mind and focus on it as much as you can as long as you can."  Bob, did this and replied: "The country on a creek bank with a fire going on a cool night." I said, "Tennessee!" Bob replied, "Yes i did it many times fishing." He then texted, "Google milky way farm and see how pretty and clear creek lake giles county tenn."  I replied, "Got it! Pulaski, TN. Very beautiful."  Bob mentioned next that he could not enjoy this place as much as he wanted because of his work responsibilities.  He added, "I would like living on the lake near by was looking when i got cancer..." I said to Bob, "You can go there again... Just plan on going."  Some of his last words to me were "Sweet home."  

Dear Bob, I will miss catching up with you over coffee.  I will miss your friendship.  But, I believe that you are free now and at peace so you can go back home or anywhere else you choose.  I am sorry that I did not see you at the very end, but I will always be thankful that we met.  I will never forget you.  Until next time we share a cup... XO, my friend. 
Linda

I don't have any extraordinary  memories of my Uncle Buster, (as we called him) except that he was always smiling...and he made us laugh...he was consistent that way...and from all the stories my father told me...he was adventurous and got himself into predicaments.    I enjoyed every time we spent together with Uncle Buster and Anne and Ashley.  Those times were far too few.   God rest your soul Uncle Buster until we see you again.    Love your niece,  Jill.

Bob and I worked together at the water plant in Boca Raton and became friend right away. 
He loved telling stories of his past experiences, and spending a lot of time with Bob I often heard the same stories over and over. Often I would tell Bob “Bob I’ve heard this one” without pause Bob’s famous line “well have I told you this one and kept right on going” lol!! 

I have many great fishing memories with Bob, One in particular is when Bob had a fish hooked and started realing it in, with a blink of an eye his fishing real went missing... looking at me confused we 
found that the real had fallen off the rod and was in the water, the tip of his pole somehow broke and fishing line ended up everywhere and of course this was right after him telling me  stories of all the great fish he had caught with this magnificent pole he had owned for so many years. We laughed so hard that day! :)
Bob was fun to be with and loved to share his electrical knowledge. I’ve learned so much from Big Bob and will miss him dearly.
My deepest condolences to his wife Anne, Ashley, Family and friends.

Robert, or Buster as we his Tennessee family call him, was my cousin and also a dear childhood friend. Our families were very close growing up therefore we have many good memories. I will always remember his big smile, his sense of humor and the humbleness he always displayed.  He fought so hard this past year and I am grateful to know he is now at peace.  
Our deepest condolences to Anne and Ashley and all of his family. 

Ron and Sheryl Brown 
Culleoka, Tennesse 

Bob was a under 4 years Staff Sergeant and he was on the Jet Engine Truck LIMA 5 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. We worked on C141's Starlifter's a 4 jet engine cargo plane. Bob was at Charleston Air Force base and went TDY, Temporary Duty, to Germany. Then the Air Force sent him to Yokota Air Base, Japan located around 30 mile from Tokyo, Japan.   I was at Yokota from April 1968 to June 1969 a transfer from Tachikawa Air Base, Japan about 10 mile from Yokota. That's how I met Bob. Bob went TDY to Hawaii, Wake Island, and Korea. He and a crew went Korea to see that the USS Pueblo, a intelligent ship North Korea captured in January 1968,   ships crew C141's were ready to fly when North Korea release the Pueblo crew in December 1968.  Bob was very good at meeting Japaneses girls.  One other thing he did on the train back from Tokyo to Tachikawa  he was tied so he laid his head on the Japanese lady shoulder next to him and went to sleep. I ask him why he did that and he said he was tired. I'm so glad for the internet, SKYPE where Bob found me. We have send messages, talked on the phone, and got to SKYPE him. I love you Bob and I'll remember you forever.  David C. Ames   Ellinwood, Kansas  Picture is at the temples at Kamakura, Japan


OBITUARY

Robert E Witherow

June 26, 1945 – January 23, 2019

Carr & Erwin Funeral Home

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