Bobby was born to parents Clyde Gerald Skelton and Clara Faye Bannister Skelton on November 29, 1965 in Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated from Craigmont High School in 1984 in Memphis, Tennessee where he was in the band and played baseball; completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix. Bobby worked for the Bartlett Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Memphis Police Department in 1991 and retired in 2014 after 22 years.
Bobby was an avid bowler for years and went to many tournaments including the Police and Fire Games. Bowling was a family sport that he inherited from his parents and passed along to his children.
Bobby was a leader and a friend to everyone he came across. All his friends describe him as a stand up guy who was always there to help someone with anything they needed, loved his job and put his heart and soul into it. The only thing he loved more was his family. Friends say Bobby was always talking about his kids, how much he loved them, and how proud he was of them. To his kids, he was invincible, their hero, and was always there with advice and a funny phrase or story to lighten the mood.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Clara Skelton, and his sister Marilyn Riddle of Grafton, Ohio. He is survived by his brother Jon Skelton of Richmond, Virginia; daughters Angela Skelton (34) (fiancée Daniel Tardugno) of Kokomo, Indiana and Kami Evans (39) (husband Brad Evans) of Memphis, Tennessee and her children, Harley (14), Sophia (13), and Rory (8); son Kendall Jewell (37) of Gallatin, Tennessee and his children, Brayden (7), Annalyn (4), Alyla (2), Theo (8 months); his stepchildren David Sanders and Chasity Sanders.
I lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to C.O.P.S. in Bobby’s name as he was an avid supporter of taking care of officer’s families.
A visitation for Robert will be held Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A visitation will occur Monday, August 12, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A funeral service will occur Monday, August 12, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A committal service will occur Monday, August 12, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at External Service Location, 3700 N Germantown Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38133.
