HOLLY GROVE -- Gene Edward Bobo, 61, of Holly Grove, died Thursday, September 4, 2008, at Stuttgart Regional Medical Center in Stuttgart. He was born June 11, 1947, in Holly Grove to James Edward Bobo Jr. and Fannie Ola Atis-Bobo. He was a lifelong member of Norman Chapel C.M.E. Church in Holly Grove. He was a 1965 graduate of Holly Grove Vocational High School in Holly Grove. He also attended Shorter College in North Little Rock for several years before being drafted into the United States Army.
He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era in the late 1960s. Lennox Industries of Stuttgart employed Bobo for over 31 years as a machine operator. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved gardening. He was also a huge basketball, football and softball fan. He loved the Boston Celtics and Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors are his wife of 38 years, Verna Dean Bobo, of Holly Grove; two sons, Pernell Bobo and wife, Stephanie, and Gene Edward Pike and wife, Tekela, both of Stuttgart; a godson, Jimmy Hall and wife, Kimberly, of Clarendon; his mother, Fannie Ola Artis-Bobo of Holly Grove; seven grandchildren, Xavier Bobo, Pernell A. Bobo Jr., Gene E. Pike Jr., and Genylah, all of Stuttgart, Kayla Cunningham-Bobo and Hallie Pike, both of Little Rock, and Andrea Johnson of Clarendon; a great-grandchild, Jaden Brooks of Clarendon; his father-in-law, Weston Williams of Holly Grove; three brothers, Larry Bobo and wife, Rose, Lee Earnest Bobo and William Bobo and wife, Shirley, all of Little Rock; five sisters, Sandra Ruth Bobo of Holly Grove, Linda Sue McLaughlin and husband, Phillip, of Tampa Hill, Md., Lou Ethel Bobo and Doris Bobo, both of Frisco, Texas, and Denise Ellis and husband, Yullic, of Loftin, Okla.; two aunts, Carlene Ratliff of Holly Grove and Shirley Bobo of Chicago, Ill.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held Friday Sept. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Branscumb Chapel in Brinkley. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 13, at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Holly Grove with Rev. W.R. Parks officiating. Interment will take place in Hayes Cemetery by Branscumb Johnson & Gilchrest Funeral Home of Brinkley.
Pallbearers are John Nunn, Bobby Doss, Harry Mayo, Wes Brewer, Ray Branch and Archie Tucker.
