ROBERT G. WISE

Aug. 5, 1938 – Nov. 23, 2014

 

Robert Graham “Bobby” Wise left this earthly home on Sunday, November 23, 2014 to be with his wife, Evelyn of 65 years and son, Philip.

Bobby was born August 5, 1938 to the late Leland Graham and Alva Gibbs Wise of Stumpy Point.  He was the eldest of three children, Linda Joyce Barbee, deceased, Alice Wise-Leary of Charlotte and husband, Warren.  Bobby married Evelyn Maxine Wheeler on August 10, 1959 in Swan Quarter.  The barefoot boy from Stumpy Point won her heart and they shared 65 years together.  They had two children, Celeste Wise Brooks, who married Tony Brooks, and Philip Craig Wise, deceased.  There are two grandchildren, Gregory Scott Wise of the home and Tabitha Lyn Brooks of Ocracoke; two great-grandchildren, Quinten Shayne Brooks of Scranton and Shayna Rhiannon Brooks of Ocracoke.

Bobby was a high school graduate and joined the U. S. Coast Guard in 1959 where he became a Chief Engineer, E-8.  He worked on ice breakers, buoy tenders and many rescue missions.  He traveled from Guam to California to Kentucky to Chesapeake, VA where in 1977 he retired after 21 years of service.

He resettled his family in Swan Quarter, N. C. where he went back to his first love which was commercial fishing.  His life began on the water and that is where he ended it.  He worked as a commercial fisherman from 1977 to 2010.  He was an excellent fisherman and loved working on the water.  He was a well-respected member of the fishing community and an asset to his craft.

Bobby was a member in good standing with the Masons and was a member of Swan Quarter Lodge # 294 AF & AM.  He was first initiated in the Manteo Lodge # 682 on July 5, 1960 and raised on February 14, 1961.  He was an active member in good standing for 53 years.

At the time of his death, he was being cared for by the wonderful staff at Cross Creek Health Care Center .  His many nurses and assistants are legion, but I need to give special recognition to Ida O’Neal, Bert Cooper, Bridgette Gibbs, Micole Izaguirre, Jaime Cahoon Spencer, Lyla Watson, Emma Cahoon Williams and Gerri Weatherly.  The family of Bobby Wise wishes to acknowledge their time and special attention to the comfort of Bobby and his family.  You are all loved and we are blessed for your compassionate and caring hearts.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 28, 2014 in Swan Quarter Baptist Church.  Steve Bryan will officiate.  Burial will follow at Soule Cemetery with Masonic Rites and Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers , donations can be made to Shiloh United Methodist Church, 256 Bayview, Stumpy Point NC 27978 or the OcracokeCommunity Park, P. O. Box 838, Ocracoke NC 27960.

The family will receive friends at Bryan Funeral Service on Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.and other times at the home of Celeste and Tony Brooks.  Online sympathy messages may be directed to www.bryanfs.com