Bobby Eugene Mast Sr

Bobby Eugene Mast, Sr., 82 passed away on Monday, August 18, 2014 at his home with his loving wife and family at his side after a long and courageous battle with dementia and leukemia. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, August 21, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Orangeburg with burial with burial at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg with Military Honors with Rev. Bert Fersner and Rev. Ken Hay officiating directed by Thompson Funeral Home Inc. in Orangeburg.

PALLBEARERS will be John Smith, Bill Salley, Chris Binnicker, J.C. Winebarger, Ron Ballard, Jerry Ferguson, Bill Briggman and Marion Moultrie

HONORARY PALLBEARERS will be members of the Elks, the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.

Bobby was born May 21, 1932 in Amantha, just outside of Boone, NC, the oldest son of Robert Alden and Nell Henson Mast. He was raised in the small town of Cove Creek, NC, where he attended school and later graduated from Cove Creek High School. After high school, Bobby left to go to Cleveland, Ohio, to find employment. He eventually learned of a job opening at Bonney Forge Tool which would later become Utica Tool Company and Bobby would be transferred to Orangeburg, SC where he would remain until his retirement. While in Ohio, Bobby was drafted into the US Army and served tours in Austria and Germany. Once he returned to the States, he visited NC for a short period of time and then returned to Ohio to return to work. While there he met and married his first wife, Betty Ferguson Fearn, the mother of two young children who had lost her husband in a tragic accident. Bobby then became a new husband with a new wife and two young daughters. Shortly thereafter, Bobby and Betty became the parents of a bouncing baby boy. Several years later, he lost his first wife, Betty in 1996 very unexpectedly. Bobby served his country in the Army and National Guard of South Carolina for a period of 26 years, having retired as SSGT in 1998. During his years of service he was given an Honorable Discharge, received the Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters; Army of Occupation Medal (Germany); National Defense Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Servicer Ribbon; SC Active State Service Medal (15 years); and the SC Governor's Unit Citation. Bobby was a member of Equality Masonic Lodge #323; Edisto Shrine Club; Orangeburg Elks Club #897 for more than 40 years; and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2779, where he served as Post Commander for twelve years. Bobby loved camping and traveling with his wife, NASCAR racing, and helping neighbors and friends, all of whom meant so very much to him. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Gordon Mast of Boone, NC and a sister, Carolyn Mast Roberts of Orangeburg, SC.

SURVIVORS include his wife, Judy Buck Mast of the home; his daughters; Sandra Whetstone (Francis) of Branchville, Christina Mast of Columbia and a son; Bobby E. Mast, Jr. (Debbie) of Orangeburg; he is also survived by five grandchildren, Carrie (Todd) Johnson of Branchville; Stacie (David) Keitt of Alexander, NC; Larry Amick of Columbia; Daniel (Christina) Amick of Asheville, NC and Kristi L. Wise of St. Matthews. Also surviving are four great grandchildren, Justin Johnson, Hayden Keitt, Maxwell Bozard and Shya Bozard. He is survived by his only brother, Theodore Mast of Boone, NC; an aunt, Rebecca Lavoie of Johnson City, Tennessee and a number of nieces and nephews in NC.

FRIENDS MAY CALL AT the residence; 1180 Cleckley Boulevard, Orangeburg or at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. in Orangeburg in Orangeburg.

Visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Other times family and friends may call at the home.

We would respectfully ask that any memorials or donations be given in Bobby's memory to Connie Maxwell Children's Home, 3105 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115, or to a charity of one's choice.

Very special thanks go out to Grove Park Hospice, its nurses and assistants, Tara, Tonya, Tammy, Barbara, Shante, Dr. Dawkins, Dr. Hayden and a dear friend of the family, Alfreida for all their loving care and support during these final weeks. All are truly angels of God and are truly appreciated by the family. The greatest of thanks to our neighbor, Emily Heape, and sister Emma Jean Buck for their concern, care and love for Bobby. We will be ever grateful to all of you and pray that God will bless each of you.