Mr. Robert "Bob" Benning Clower

July 24, 1925 - June 5, 2020

Robert “Bob” Benning Clower, age 94 of Roopville, went home to be with Jesus on Friday June 5th, 2020. He was born July 24th, 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was son of the late John Thomas Clower and Allie Stanford Clower. Bob enlisted in the United States Navy on September 17th 1943. He served his commission aboard the USS New Jersey until he was wounded on December 24th, 1944. Bob was wounded by a torpedo shot from one of our ships. This was considered “friendly fire”, although Bob jokingly laughed and always claimed “it wasn’t very friendly.” He held no animosity about the injury and refused his Purple Heart Metal. As he explained, “All those other boys were hurt and killed by the enemy, but my injury was just an accident.” Around the age of 90 he started thinking he would have liked a Purple Heart. Bob attended yearly reunions of the USS New Jersey until his late eighties when his health would not permit it. After Bob was wounded he was transferred to numerous naval hospitals, including serval aboard ships. He underwent multiple surgeries and was given an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Naval Hospital in Dublin, Georgia on June 4th, 1946. He was Seaman 2nd Class at the time of his discharge. Bob was proud to be an American, to fight for his country, and always treasured his flag and his freedom. Bob married Martha Curbow Clower on January 29th, 1971. She was the love of his life and anyone who met them knew they were meant for each other. They met on New Years Eve just 30 days before they married. They were married for 46 years before Martha’s death in 2017. Bob and Marth traveled all over the United States after their retirement in 1989. The trip Bob would talk about most was when they drove out west for 16 days. Bob was so proud that they drove 8,000 miles and saw many beautiful sights, but something he regretted later was not letting Martha stop at Boot Hill. He said he was in too big of a hurry to get to the next place! During his life Bob worked as a lifeguard, a bowling alley attendant, then found his calling at the VA Hospital working as a pharmacy technician after his service in the Navy. He worked at the VA from 1960 until his retirement in 1989. He was given several awards for his caring service of others and his sunny disposition that he displayed as he waited on other disabled veterans. Several co-workers called and sent cards to Bob on a regular basis even 30 years after his retirement. This attests to the difference he made in others’ lives. Bob was an active member in several churches throughout his life. He believed in supporting missionaries and children’s homes along with his local church. At the time of his death, Bob was a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Bowdon, Georgia. Through the years he was an active member at Bethany Christian Church (Carrollton), Midway Baptist (Carrollton), and later North Point Baptist (Carrollton). When Bob was not in church or traveling he enjoyed fishing, gardening, and watching old westerns. He especially loved John Wayne movies. Wherever Bob went he was known for his smile and his jokes. He always had a cheerful, positive attitude and a grateful spirit. Even as a shut-in he would say little uplifting things daily to the family members caring for him. He left us with these sayings we will remember him by: “Love, Love”, “Nighty-night, neaty-neat”, “Bye-bye, Buy bonds”, “Thank you Angel”, “Thank you ever so much”, “Think retirement, dream Montana”, “Fabulous”, Us “How are you Bob?” Bob, “Better than people’”. Besides his parents and wife, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Tom, and sister, Rosa Mae. He is survived by nieces and nephews Kay Curbow, Jamie and Sandi Curbow, Jimmy and Susan Hancock, and Sherri and Tom Robins. Great nieces and nephews Clay and Rhonda Brown, DJ and Lorena Curbow, Randall and Chassy Curbow, and Deborah and Landon Ledbetter along with numerous Great-great nieces and nephews and four great-great-great nieces and a nephew. Special thanks to his caregivers in the family for giving of yourselves. Also to Tanner Home Health (Monica, Sharlene, and Marie), Dr. Gordon, and Tanner Hospice (Christie and Becky) who helped him spend his final years at home. To the great-nephews that stepped up and spent numerous nights at Bob’s those first 7 months (Riley, Sawyer, Zachary, Logan, & Garrett),thank you so much. To Tia-Lisa who helped us for two years, we could not have done it without you. Lastly, to Clay, Kay (Mama), Savannah, Tiffany, and Natalie who have stayed the course and done whatever needed to be done, in Bob’s words “We thank you ever so much