Robert Lawrence Webb

Robert Lawrence Webb was born on November 21, 1926, in Fletcher, Ohio, to Shelby Lawrence Webb and Sylvia Zathoe Brelsford Webb. The family moved to Troy when Robert was 4 years old; and except for the four years during which he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy, he spent the rest of his long and admirable life in Troy. He passed away peacefully on October 23, 2019.

Bob was a loving family man, a good neighbor, a devoted church member, and a hard worker. He made friends easily, was always ready to tell a favorite story, and often laughed the hardest at his own jokes. He had an easy smile and a twinkle in his eye that revealed his mischievous side.

After 46 years of single life, he married his late wife Juanita Long Woolard Webb on October 5, 1973. He became not only a loving husband but also a kind and loving father and a revered grandfather and great grandfather. Just a week before he passed, he was still laughing about the time he tricked his two young grandsons into walking with him to Perkins on the other side of town. Anyone who knew him knew how proud he was of his two daughters, Barbara and Sandra, and his nieces and nephews: Shelby, Carroll, Christie, Robert, George, David, Alfred, John, and Heather. They are all equally proud and grateful to have been blessed by his kindness.

Bob loved watching his favorite Al Jolson movie, listening to George Beverly Shea sing “How Great Thou Art,” and talking about the “Rapture.” He spoke proudly of the years he served in the Navy, 1944-1948. He worked for one company his entire adult life: Gummed Products Company (later St. Regis Paper Co., Champion Paper, Ivex Packaging, Chargeurs, and Troy Laminating & Coating Inc.). He was a lifelong member of one church--First Baptist Church of Troy--where he served the God he loved and, of course, studied and talked about the Rapture.

After his marriage to Juanita, Bob lived in one house, which he managed to maintain until only a few weeks before his death. There, he and Juanita were beloved neighbors to Gary and Doris, Kathy and Karla, and Beverly and Morgan. After Juanita’s death, the neighbors looked after him and made sure he didn’t miss her home cooking too much. He always had a few containers of chicken noodle soup in his freezer as well as other homemade goodies supplied by Doris, Kathy, Karla, and Beverly. Any time Bob was unable to drive to an appointment or needed a ride to the airport, Gary faithfully drove him and looked after him, including Bob’s final hospital stay.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Juanita; his sister Lillie Belle Webb Johnson; his brother Walter “Steve” Brelsford; and his nephews Robert Lawrence Johnson, Alfred Eric Johnson, and John Warren Brelsford. He is survived by his 96-year-old sister Edith Mae Webb Stevenson of Jacksonville, Florida; Edith’s son Shelby Lawrence Stevenson and her two daughters Carroll Dean Stevenson and Christine Lucille Stevenson; Lillie Belle’s sons George Allen Johnson and David Roy Johnson; and Steve’s daughter Heather Warren Kerlin. He is also survived by his two stepdaughters, Barbara Woolard Griffith of Fort Myers, Florida, and Sandra Woolard of San Diego, California, as well as his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great nieces and nephews.

Life well lived, promises kept, youthful dreams fulfilled, successes achieved, Bob is now at rest; and after a separation of 8 years and 2 days, he and Juanita are reunited. Rest in peace together.

Robert’s life will be celebrated on Sunday, October 27, at First Baptist Church of Troy. The viewing will begin at 3:00 P.M. and the service at 4:00 P.M., both in the church sanctuary. Flowers may be sent to the church, or you may make a donation or do some act of kindness in his honor. He’d like that.

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