Robert Brantley

Robert (Junior/Bob) Brantley, 94, of Pensacola, Florida quietly passed away Sunday morning, August 20, 2023. He was born in Lenox, Alabama on May 26, 1929, to Robert and Evie Brantley. He was the eldest child of eight children.

Bob grew up in Conecuh County, Alabama, the son of a carpenter, who taught he and his brothers the skills of carpentry and homebuilding. He joined the Air Force in his early years and was stationed in Guam. He was in charge of building the military infrastructure in Guam after World War II. The Brantleys built thousands of homes in northwest Florida and south Alabama. Bob was involved in many businesses throughout his life, but homebuilding was the one that enabled him to retire at 50 years old. He passed his legacy and knowledge of homebuilding to his son, Jonathan, and his son-in-law, Edwin.

In April 1957, he married Earlene Lee. They had four children: Becky, Pete, Sue (Susan), and Mark. The family relocated from Alabama to Pensacola, Florida.

In 1975, Robert married Marian Rettberg of San Jose, California. Marian had two daughters, Cindy and Sylvia, who then became part of the family. In 1978, Bob and Marian welcomed a son, Jonathan. Bob was 50 years old when Jonathan was born and retired shortly afterwards.

Bob loved to travel. His travels took him as far as France and Egypt, but he especially loved traveling to Alaska. Bob and his two brothers, Clyde and Claude, set out on a bicycle trip to Alaska in their early twenties. Their trip made newspaper headlines. They got as far as Denver before their money and sponsorships ran out. He made many trips to Alaska with Jonathan when he was growing up. In later years, he enjoyed traveling to Alaska with his cousins, Wilbur and Lavon, his son-in-law, Edwin, and his nephew, Larry Wayne and Rhonda. He enjoyed taking different ones to a cabin he built in the late 1950s way back in the Alaskan wilderness. He enjoyed the adventure and challenge of getting there.

After Marian passed, Anna Montgomery came into his life. They spent 26 years together enjoying life and traveling. He was the happiest when he was traveling. Anna took such good care of him and particularly so in his last few months. Anna will always hold a special place and honor in the hearts of the Brantley family.

He was especially close to his mother, Evie Brantley. He passed away on the anniversary of his mother’s death thirteen years ago on August 20, 2010.

Bob was a blessed man. His family was blessed to have him for 94 years. He was an amazing husband, father, and friend. He had a large cloud of witnesses welcoming him into Heaven.

He is survived by his spouse, Anna Montgomery, his sons, Robert Mason (Pete) Brantley and Jonathan (Debrah) Brantley, his daughter, Susan (Edwin) Henry, and six grandchildren: Lisa (Richard) Christopher, Lauren (Taylor) Rogers, Stephen (Brittney) Henry, Layne Brantley, Shaelynn Brantley, and Jordyn (Isabelle) Brantley, and eight great-grandchildren: Kody, Korbin, and Kamden Christopher, Adalynn and Henry Rogers, Kylie Henry and Landon Irwin, and Landyn Brantley.

Robert (Junior/Bob) Brantley is also survived by his sister, Erline (Edward) Nall and Curtis (Carolyn) Brantley.

He is preceded in death by two children: Rebecca Brantley and Mark Brantley; his parents, Robert and Evie Brantley; three brothers, Ray (Sara) Brantley, Clyde (Dot) Brantley, Claude Brantley, and two sisters, Janice Knowles, and Dot Johnson.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EasternGateMemorial.com for the Brantley family.