Robert "Bob" Addy

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert “Bob” Addy, a wonderful husband, daddy, grandaddy, and Gpa. He passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by those he loved the most, on June 28th at the age of 93. While we will forever miss having him here to keep us straight (it really is a full time job), we are thankful for the decades of laughter, life lessons, and unforgettable memories that he leaves us with.

Born on September 15th, 1931 to Curtis and Myrtle Rae Addy, he grew up in Leesville, back before the towns were consolidated. He enjoyed life in the country and graduated from Batesburg Leesville High School in 1950. I would be willing to bet that one of his greatest school memories was meeting the love of his life, Sara Kelly. Their love would go on to cross the ocean, as he deployed with the United States Air Force during the Korean War. 

Upon returning stateside, he and Sara were married on March 4th, 1953. They went on to have two beloved daughters, who kept them on their toes at all times. He worked full time at the Savannah River Site as an Electronics & Instruments (E&I) Instructor. He also served in the South Carolina Army National Guard, found great joy in being active in the church, being a volunteer with the Batesburg-Leesville Fire Department, and serving the community in various capacities. But, he would absolutely say, “Ivey this is an obituary, not a resume.”

After retiring in the 90s, he spent his free time golfing, cruising Store Creek in his Carolina Skiff, hunting, fishing wherever he could cast a line, traveling the world, and being a closeted Clemson Tigers fan (we’re still in disbelief ourselves). Shockingly, many of his fishing tales were not tall tales, as he did in fact once catch a shark in the Skiff and beat it with a bat, much to the dismay of my grandmother and mother. However, in his later years, all his fishing adventures had to be put on pause as the family realized that they all coincided with significant natural disasters.

Although he proudly did many things, his real career was being the unofficial handyman (there was Bob’s way or the wrong way), master lawnkeeper & gardener, and the giver of unsolicited, but surprisingly timely and accurate, life advice. He was never one to shy away from a problem and always helped his family and friends without question or hesitation. Without his quick thinking and support, I never would have been able to cover up wrecking my brother’s truck for almost 15 years. 

He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Ann Addy, who we have no doubt was waiting for him at Heaven’s gate. We take comfort in knowing he is also reunited with Cody, Carolina, and many other family and friends that he cherished. With the utmost certainty, I can tell you that it was a joyous reunion filled with a lot of laughter.

He is survived by his wonderful wife, Sara, his love of over 72 years. His devoted and equally stubborn daughter, Kathryn. His charming granddaughter, Ivey (Elvis), and his also equally stubborn grandson, Aaron (Cassie - who was lovingly referred to as Cathy throughout their relationship). To Aaron and I, he was always more than a granddaddy, stepping in to be our biggest fan, toughest critic, and our constant rock. Although we know he cherished being a husband, daddy, and granddaddy, we were all demoted when he became a Gpa to Walker, who is quite literally his mini me. We are so thankful that Walker got to be his Gpa’s sidekick for six years, as it is an opportunity not afforded to many. There are many more family and friends who will miss his infectious laugh, knowledge of random things, and his stubborn streak (don’t worry, that appears to be genetic and it was passed along to us). 

For those who knew and loved my granddaddy, you know that so much of who we all are, is built upon who he was. To know my granddaddy was to love him and to be given the truth every time, even if you didn’t want to hear it. He was as stubborn as a mule, had a heart of gold, and a selective hearing problem whenever grandma or mama would tell him to take things easy. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, grit, and a deep belief that sometimes rocking on the porch at Edisto really is all you need to make things better. 

A celebration of his life will be held at Barr Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic Batesburg-Leesville Chapel on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. . The family will receive visitors following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Edisto Island Open Land Trust or a local organization of your choice. If you’re unable to donate, we ask that you do something kind for someone else today. 

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful ladies from McLeod Health and Three Oaks Hospice  who supported and cared for him over the past year. Your support and compassion will not be forgotten.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert "Bob" Addy, please visit our floral store.