No services are planned for Robert James ‘Bob’ Edgin, 86, Lawrence, who died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Cremation is planned.
He was born Mar. 10, 1929, in Altus, Ark., the son of Grover Cleveland and Auda Marie Casey Edgin. He graduated from high school in Altus, and later attended the University of Arkansas. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Bob was a mechanical engineer for E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. for 26 years, retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Alford-Clarke Post 852 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lawrence, and enjoyed fishing and hunting.
He married Donna Duncan on Dec. 25, 1951, in Clarksville, Ark. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a daughter, Debra Edgin, Lawrence; a son, Dale R. Edgin and wife Charisse, Lawrence; two brothers, Thomas Edgin, Ozark, Ark., and David Edgin and wife Sylvia, Ozark, Ark.; three grandchildren, Michael Scott Davenport, Robbin Renee Ward, and Brody Duncan Edgin; and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Dianea Kramer, and three siblings, William ‘Billy’ Edgin, Freda Marie Ree, and Betty Watson.
Lee’s earliest memories of “Bobby Joe” are when he went with Bob and our father sometime in the 60’s down to the Wakarusa River and they fished for flatheads with ‘limb lines’. They always brought Fall Staff or Schlitz aka ‘BIG BOY POP’ which Lee remembers they had to open with a church key… Lee wasn’t allowed any of the ‘BIG BOY POP’ and remembers they never brought any ‘LITTLE BOY POP’! When they were through fishing they would go back to Edgin’s house and dress the fish.
On their last hunting trip which included our dad, Bobby Joe and Tom Boyd they left in the middle of the night for Joe and Donna Schmitt’s house on who’s property they hunted. Lee remembers quite a bit of ‘BIG BOY POP’ being consumed on the way out and when they arrived very early in the morning – our dad and Bobby Joe headed for the trampoline and climbed on and were jumping up and down having a great time. They were at least 75 years old!
Lee remembers Bobby Joe as the best storyteller there ever was and as tall as the tales were he and his friends were even taller than their stories – they had LIVED those stories.
He knows Bobby Joe is now at NIMROD LAKE with a washtub full of BLUE NUN and a bottle of OLD CHARTER and his Browning loaded and ready to hunt. He was a good man and will be missed.
I now smile imagining he and dad jumping for joy on a trampoline in heaven. Glad Lee shared this story with me.
Donna, Debbie and Dale,
Bob will be missed and so will his stories.
I am so sorry for your loss. You are always in my prayers and in my heart. May the Lord bless you and give you comfort in the times ahead.
Love you all.
i have known the family for many yrs.i went to school with debbie and knew mr and mrs edgin thru working several yrs at the dillons store in lawrence.mr edgin i know will be missed.he was a truly a great guy.my prayers go out to the family.
Bob will be missed. My prayers are with his family.
We always enjoyed Bobby Joe, he will be missed. Our prayers are with your family.
You were a great father in law, I could always count on getting sound advice and guidance. You will be greatly missed by all.
Bobby Joe kept us all entertained on our hunting trips out west. Bet you didn’t know he liked to sing & play his “air” fiddle. His favorite song was “Keys in the mailbox, come on in”. No better man & hunting buddy than Bob Edgin.