THUNDERBOLT, GEORGIA - Robert Eugene “Bobby” Harper, Sr., 79, of Thunderbolt, Georgia, husband of Carolyn Ann Williams Harper, died Wednesday evening, February 1, 2012, at Hospice Savannah.

Born in Sylvania, Georgia, he was a son of the late Otis Alvin Harper, Sr. and the late Ruby Daniel Harper. Bobby was a communicant of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.  He was a pipefitter and plumber for the Local Union 188. Bobby was a founding member of the Tybee Island Marine Rescue Squadron, Tybee Island Jaycees and the Tybee Island Fire Department. He served 13 years in the Georgia National Guard. In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by three sons, Robert Harper, Jr., Randy Harper and Albert Harper, Sr., and one brother, Claude Harper.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Ann Williams Harper of Thunderbolt, Georgia; five daughters, Carol Reynolds and her husband, Ernie, and Karen Campen and her husband, Rudy, all of Midway, Georgia, and Teresa Abernathy and her husband, Tommy, Anna Murphy, and Hope Meeks and her husband, Craig, all of Savannah, Georgia; one sister, Pauline Woods of Newington, Georgia; two brothers, Otis Alvin Harper, Jr. and his wife, JuJuan, and James Harper, Sr. and his wife, Dale, all of Savannah, Georgia; nineteen grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 2 until 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, with the Vigil service being held at 4 o’clock.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church conducted by Monsignor P. James Costigan and The Reverend Kim Nguyen. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.

Remembrances: Hospice Savannah - Post Office Box #13190, Savannah, Georgia 31416-0190.