Mr. Robert Herman Funderburk

Robert Herman Funderburk passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 24,2012 at Baptist Hospital in Montgomery, Al after a brief illness. He was born December 22,1927, in Alexander City, Al, the only child of Herman and Fredda (née Mask) Funderburk. As a youngster, he learned a deep sense of serving and caring as he assisted his father in caring for his chronically ill mother. After the passing of his mother when he was a young adult, this caring trait grew and matured as he raised his family and cared for two wives as the health of each declined.

His working life began as a teen aged stock clerk at the A&P food store in Alexander City. This would become a 38 year career managing A&P stores in Tuskegee, Montgomery, Clanton and Opelika. A second career had grabbed his attention even before the first had ended. In 1981, he began growing azaleas and Christmas trees. That small beginning grew and prospered as he partnered with son, David to form Little Mountain Growers. He retired from that venture in 2008.

Robert had a deep love for the outdoors and found great joy being outside whether it was making his yard beautiful, enjoying mountaintop views from the Appalachian foothills in Alabama to the Rockies to the Alps of Europe, but the special love was any body of water that held the prospect of a fish waiting to be caught.

Robert was the loving husband of Bettye (née Conaway) and their children Daniele and David and later, his wife Sara (nee Trawick) He is survived by Sara, his children Daniele (Karl) Bruhn of Batavia, Il, and David (Leah) Funderburk of Montgomery, Al, grandchildren Kristin Bruhn of Chicago, Il, Andrew (Lydia) Bruhn of Glen Ellyn, Il, and Jayne and Joy Funderburk of Montgomery, Al. Robert will be deeply

missed by his family, many friends and scores if extended family.

Visitation will be 5-7 pm Thursday, January 26; funeral services at 10 am Friday, January 27, both at Leak~Memory. Memorials may be made to Fox Valley Children's Chorus, PO Box 502, Batavia, Il 60510 or Capitol Heights Baptist Church, Montgomery, Al.