Bob Bandy

Bob (Bobby) Ray Bandy passed away November 16th, at the age of 85. He went peacefully in his sleep, in the home he loved. He was the husband of the late Barbara (Barnett) Bandy. The two were married on January 28, 1955, in the home of Owen and Edna Saladin in Norwood, MO. They shared 62 wonderful years of marriage and together they built a legacy of family, faith, and love. They showed us all what true love looked like as they stayed unified through the hard times and celebrated through the good. The two were inseparable and loved each other deeply. Their reunion was long awaited and no doubt a joyous occasion.

Bob was born into a loving family on July 2, 1935. He was raised to know the Lord and trusted in Him at an early age. He graduated from high school in 1953.

Bob did not shy away from hard work and had a work ethic that many came to know and appreciate. He taught us that work is worthy and honorable. From him, we learned to press through the hard, to never quit, and to be proud of a job well done. Bob held several jobs throughout his life. He worked at a garment factory, owned the Horseshoe Drive In, became a successful barber, drove trucks for Hirschbach Motorlines, owned and operated a dairy farm, and eventually retired from a successful career with Trans Am Trucking. Even after retirement, he did not quit working. He joined the Wright County Soil and Water District and continued to contribute to those around him.

Bob was an adventurer at heart. In 1967, he became the first pilot in Mountain Grove to qualify as a flight instructor. He loved to be in the air. He was the first to try new things and taught us all that it’s okay if you don’t like it, but you should definitely try it. He loved to spoil his family with crab leg dinners, oysters at the beach, and Christmas pancakes. He rode roller coasters with his grandkids and never shied away from a competitive game of ladder golf or dominoes. He was the life of the party and if he teased you, you knew you were loved. Bob lived to make people laugh and feel known. He spent hours on the phone with his loved ones, sharing in their highs and lows. He texted you back, commented on your photos, and always thought the best of you. He followed flight paths, checked to make sure you landed, and told you to send pictures. He enjoyed bluegill fishing and sucker grabbing. He was creative. He took up wood-working as a hobby, he helped Barbara with her baking and sewing, and he crafted family-famous recipes like his barbeque sauce. Bob was one of a kind and everyone who knew him felt like they were the most important person to him.

Bob had a green thumb. For many years he grew a large and successful garden. He spent countless hours tending his garden so that he could share the produce with those he loved. His corn, beans, and tomatoes are still the best we’ve ever had. Bob raised goats and made goat cheese and goat soap. He loved to delight the grandkids by letting the goats jump on his back. He honored nature and used the gifts the Lord gave him to nurture his family for many years.

To know Bob, or as so many called him, Papa, was to know love, to feel safe, to have confidence because he was always spurring you on. He was a gift and a delight to those lucky enough to know him and be loved by him. He was the biggest supporter of his people and his love was unconditional. He could have known you for two minutes or for his whole life and he would make you feel included in his family. When you were with him you felt the deep satisfaction of being special to him. He never withheld his love. He gave it freely and without hesitation. If you had Bob in your life, you had a help mate. Though he is deeply missed, our lives are forever changed because we were loved by him. His legacy will live on through his family and the many, many lives he impacted.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (Barnett) Bandy, his parents, Luther and Elsie (Ice) Bandy, his sisters-in-law, Louise Bandy, Gereldine Barnett, Ruby McKinney, Earline Moore, and Eileen Dorris.

Bob is survived by his children, Darell and Julie Bandy and Tamme and David Hutsell, his grandchildren, Shawn and Jennifer (Hutsell) Barry, Zach and Victoria Hutsell, and Jared and Chelsey Hutsell, his great-grandchildren, Lauren Barry, Easton Barry, Wyatt Barry, Hailey Hutsell, Harrison Hutsell, and Olivia Hutsell, his brother Raymond Bandy, brother-in-law Jack and Bonita Barnett, along with many nieces and nephews and special friends who felt like family.