Robert Reynolds

Published 9:05 am Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Robert Reynolds, 88, of Tryon, North Carolina, went to meet our heavenly father on March 14. 

Bob was born on Sept. 15, 1935 in Farmville to William and Leona Wilkes Reynolds. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Lois Reynolds and beautiful daughter, Kerry Kaltenbach. 

He is survived by his children: Brian and his wife, Rachel; Kevin and his wife, Lori; Tracy and her husband, Trygve; his son-in-law, Richard Kaltenbach and his special friend, Phyllis Mullis. He leaves behind four grandchildren: Robin, Kyle, Jennifer and Michael and three great grandchildren: Autumn, Ryker, and Tucker. He is also survived by his brothers: Lee Billingsley and his wife, Anne, and Len Billingsley and his wife, Suzie. He also leaves behind a community and many friends who loved him dearly. 

When Bob met Lois, he knew within two weeks he had found his person. They married, and moved from Michigan, Virginia, Ohio and then to North Carolina to settle in the mountains. 

During this time, they raised four children, Brian, Kerry, Kevin and Tracy. 

Sweet old Bob was a salesman by trade, but his true passion was lifelong learning and exploring. One of Bob’s favorite places to visit was England, which he visited on multiple occasions, but his heart stayed in his hometown of Farmville. He always encouraged and was excited to hear about his friends and family’s travels as well. Some more of Bob’s favorite things were local live theater, stamp collecting, driving through the mountains to see the fall colors, cracking jokes, good food, seeing his family and not least of all a good drink. 

One of the most meaningful lessons he preached was that self-pity was the cheapest of human emotion. He embodied this ideal by never letting tragedy or hardships lessen the light and humor he brought to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. Anyone who had met the man knew how strong he was and how much positivity he exuded. 

He loved animals and often neighborhood animals would happily visit him for attention and a good head pat. 

He will be deeply missed but there can be no mistake at how much he loved his friends and family and what a blessing it has been to know him for as long as we have. 

The family would like to thank the wonderful people who have taken care of him; White Oak Manor and Hospice of the Carolina Foothills inpatient unit in Forest City. 

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at Columbus Presbyterian Church in Columbus, North Carolina. 

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. 

The family asks in lieu of flowers to make a donation to the American Cancer Society or the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. 

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com. McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, North Carolina.