Bob was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Jean B. Holley, his son, Robert (Bo) S. Holley, Jr., and twins, Henry Holley and Avery Holley who all died much too soon. He is also predeceased in 2019 by his older brother, Henry Simpson Holley, Jr. Bob is survived by his niece Susan Holley Trevino of Corpus Christi, Texas, his niece Dee Holley Hickman of Little Rock, Arkansas, his nephew, Stephen Batchelor Holley of Darien, Georgia, and their families.
Bob was born in Live Oak, Florida on May 20, 1934 to Henry and Gladys Holley. When he was a young boy, the family moved to Quincy, Florida, a small agricultural county seat 25 miles west of Tallahassee. He attended secondary school and graduated from Gadsden County High School in the spring of 1952. He stated often that Quincy was the best place to grow up as a kid. The following four years he spent as an enlistee in the United States Air Force as a Russian language specialist in Security Service. He learned the Russian language through a one-year curriculum at Syracuse University. His language training was followed by a two-year tour of duty in Libya and Turkey. He served the remainder of his military service and received an honorable discharge from Lock Port Air Force Station just outside of Niagara Falls, New York in 1956.
In June of 1956 Bob enrolled at Florida State University He pursued a B.A. degree in the pre-law discipline of Public Administration and obtained a degree in January 1959. He remained a booster emeritus and alumni booster member for fifty years. The proposed law degree was never sought as he continued his college and part-time employment as an Assistant Manager of the Tallahassee branch of Stockton, Whatley, Davin and Co. (SWD) in August of 1958. It was during the early days of his career that he met Jean Burkhalter, a native North Carolinian who grew up on her family’s eastern North Carolina tobacco farm. After their marriage, Bob and Jean moved to Jacksonville where he joined the management team of SWD. He worked for SWD until his retirement as one of the final Presidents of the company.
Bob was an engaging, funny, smart, enthusiastic gentleman. He loved the outdoors, fishing, and keeping up with family members, neighbors, and following his Seminoles. One of his favorite places to visit was Contentment Bluff on the Georgia coast – especially for family gatherings.
Bob’s family would like to thank Always Best Care for their care and service, Community Hospice, and especially a longtime helper and friend, Delinda Watkins for the way they cared for Bob during his final years.
There is not a formal service planned, but Bob’s ashes, along with those of Jean and Bo will be interred with the twins previously buried at the Holley family plot at Hillcrest Cemetery in Quincy, Bob’s childhood home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Holley family.
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