Robert "Bobby" Wiley

Robert “Bobby” Ashley Wiley, age 64, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep next to his bride of 35 years on Wednesday, October 6, 2022. Born on April 23, 1958, in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of William Howard Wiley, Jr. and Dorothy Lee Ashley Wiley. He was the son-in-law of Charlie and Susan Speight of Columbus, North Carolina.

Bobby was larger than life. He was passionate about his faith in Jesus, his love for Stacey and their children, his country, and his LSU Tigers. Family and friends deeply enriched his life. He was loyal. He was strong and confident. While never asking directly for attention, he always ended up receiving it. You could count on him to be the sharpest dressed man in the room - Bobby Wiley had style like no other. Behind his strong personality was a huge heart filled with tenderness and kindness. You could always depend on him to show up, no matter what. His children idolized him and always will.

He spent his formative years in Baltimore, Maryland; Athens, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Upon graduating from H.L. McCracken High School, he attended Newberry College in South Carolina where he played on the golf and tennis teams and received a BA in History. He was also a member of Theta Chi fraternity. Although his college years were spent at Newberry, he was a diehard, rabid, LSU Tiger fanatic. He remained an avid golf and tennis player his whole life and had the opportunity to play Augusta National in 1986 after Jack Nicklaus (his childhood and adulthood idol) won his last Masters Tournament Championship. While he never made a hole-in-one, he broke 70 on more than one occasion.

In July 1986 he met the love of his life and knew right away he wanted to marry her. Six weeks later he popped the question and she said yes. He gave her a ring in October, and they were married the next spring on April 4. He later told Stacey that on their first date, he went to the men’s room, pointed to himself in the mirror while smoking a cigarette, and said “I’m gonna marry that girl.”

After several years with Atlantic Medical Supply in Augusta, Georgia, his exuberant personality and competitiveness brought them to Raleigh where he served for 26 years as a medical sales representative in eastern North Carolina. He ranked as a top sales performer and earned numerous performance awards, including the first annual Redline Healthcare President’s Award. During the last seven and a half years of his life, he dedicated himself to faithfully caring for families at Raleigh Memorial Park Cemetery as a service counselor.

Bobby was a lifetime follower of Jesus. His faith grew stronger and more grounded over the years. He was a longtime member and usher at Church of the Apostles Anglican. He and Stacey were most recently attending Redeemer Anglican, a church planted by Apostles in downtown Raleigh. Since 2003 he had been loyally involved in Bible study, most recently the Finding Purpose Men’s Bible Study. He devotedly attended the Men’s Friday Morning Fellowship held at Church of the Apostles every week where he worshiped and shared fellowship with his brothers in Christ.

You could often find Bobby sitting outside in his lawn chair with his speaker listening to his favorite music, including The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, and many other timeless artists. He loved crisp fall days, afternoons on the golf course, a good party, lit candles, Peanut Buster Parfaits, egg salad sandwiches, a great beer in an icy glass, sitting on the beach, throwing the football, front-yard bonfires, a pour of bourbon, The Andy Griffith Show (black and white only), reading the news, thunderstorms, dancing with Stacey and January snowflakes.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Stacey Speight Wiley, and their four children, Elizabeth Wiley Alejandro and her husband Hector, William Nicklaus Wiley, Ashley Brewer Wiley, Cecilia “Clare” Wiley, as well as his two young grandsons, Éver Wiley Alejandro and Sully Luis Alejandro. In addition to his immediate family, he is also survived by his brother, David Wiley (Jane), sister, Betsy Broome (Doug), and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members. He was predeceased by his parents and his mother-in-law Diane Mayfield Speight.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 4-7 pm at Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park (7209 Glenwood Avenue). A Celebration of Resurrection will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022 at 1 pm at The Church of the Apostles (333 Church at North Hills Street), with family to receive in the Fellowship Hall following the service. The service will be live streamed by the church for those that can not attend in person (link to Join LiveStream can be found below within the Service Box Information).

Private graveside services will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Redeemer Anglican Church: redeemerraleigh.org or the DAV (Disabled American Veterans): dav.org

“Sweet baby dreams, ring around the moon and dream about a Tiger 🐅."

- Daddy, Gran PaPa, Bobby

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