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tree
planted in memory of Robert H Mattox
Obituary for Robert H Mattox
Robert Howell Mattox passed away peacefully Sunday, October 10th, 2022 at the age of 100. For the past six years, Bob had lived at the Veterans’ Victory House in Walterboro, SC.
Born September 13th, 1922 in Bellville, GA, Bob truly lived an amazing life and developed loving friendships all along the way.
After graduating from Vidalia High School, it was not long before he enlisted in the Navy in the early stages of WWII. From September 1941 until September 1947 he was a Radioman First Class on several large Navy ships, the last of which was the destroyer USS Orleck from January 1946 until he retired from the Navy in September 1947. He truly saw the world in the Navy serving in both the European and Pacific campaigns.
After the war he married Marjorie Oese Etheridge and they began a wonderful marriage of 52 years until she passed away in 2002.
Their life together started at Middle Georgia College before Bob transferred to, and graduated from, the University of Georgia. He was truly a proud Georgia Bulldog and enjoyed visiting there and attending numerous football games.
After college, he was a communications instructor at Camp Gordon before starting what would be a lifetime career with the Ralston Purina Company. First son Larry was born in 1951, followed by son Donald in 1953 and daughter Carol in 1957. In December 1957, the family settled in Barnwell, SC, where Bob lived until October of 2016 when he moved to the Victory House.
He was a fantastic, caring husband and father who was always so supportive of Margie and the family.
He loved playing golf and was always proud of being a Masters ticket holder since 1962. The Masters was always an annual family outing with many stories of the experiences they shared at the world’s most famous sporting event. Amazingly, he was also able to play the Augusta National 15 times with his sons and a member.
After Bob retired from Purina, he truly embraced getting to know the many farmers in the area and became best known for his contacts, and produce “bartering”, with many produce specialists in South Carolina and Georgia. Annual pecan and onion “runs” to Bellville and Vidalia were major calendar events for Bob and his friends. In addition, he had many friends in the peach, watermelon, corn, strawberry, peanut, and tomato worlds.
This all led to a lot of produce being distributed among his many friends. Whenever he visited someone, or they visited him, the trip was not completed until he had given them some gift of the latest product from the local fields. It was very important for him to share them with his friends.
He lived a great life and giving life and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Bob was predeceased by his wife, Margie, and two children, Carol and Donald. He leaves behind his son, Larry (Kathy) and loving grandchildren, Daniel Mattox (Lillie), Mary Hughey (Trey), Caleb Mattox (Molly), and Whitley Mattox as well as his greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation services will be held Thursday, October 13th 2022 from 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM at the Mole Funeral Home Chapel, with funeral services beginning at 12:00 PM. Graveside services will follow at Barnwell County Memory Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Trinity Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 521 Claxton, GA 30417.
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