REV. ROBERT L. BAME SR.
June 24, 1919-Aug. 28, 2005
The Rev. Robert L. "Bob" Bame Sr., 86, of Pikeville, died Sunday at New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington.
Rev. Bame was born in Rowan County to the late James R. Bame and Amanda Ludwig Bame. As a teen, he lived at Carolina Beach and graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington. Rev. Bame attended Louisburg College for two years and then went to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where he earned his AB degree. He received his master of divinity from Duke Divinity School in 1944. He also attended summer classes at Yale University and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Rev. Bame was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1945. His previous appointments included West Halifax Circuit, St. Joseph and Mount Carmel (Pikeville), Saulston, Elm Street (Goldsboro), LaGrange, Southern Pines, Fifth Avenue (Wilmington), First (Hertford), St. James (Tarboro), Long Memorial (Roxboro) and Millbrook in Raleigh. During his ministry, he has served in a number of capacities both at the District level and Conference Level, including membership on the Conference Board of Missions and Conference Commission on Worship.
He retired from the North Carolina Conference in June of 1983, after serving 40 years. On July 1, 1983, he was hired by St. Paul United Methodist Church in Goldsboro to serve as Visitation Pastor, mainly to the elderly at home and in nursing homes. In May, 2005, Rev. Bame was given the title of Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Rev. Bame was chosen as Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the Goldsboro Jaycees and then in the same year was one of five Outstanding Citizens of North Carolina. Other community activities include serving on the Advisory Board of Wages Senior Companion Program and the program for the Blind in Wayne County. For many years, Rev. Bame raised money and walked in the annual United Church Ministries Walk for Hunger.
The funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Dr. Homer Morris and the Rev. Charles Morrison will officiate. Burial will be in Pikeville Cemetery.
Rev. Bame is survived by his wife, Helen Butner Bame; his son, Robert L. Bame Jr. of Williamston, and his daughter, Rebecca Bame of Goldsboro; his grandchildren, Charlie C. Davis and Robert Lee Davis of Carolina Beach; and his sister, Ruby Knox of Salisbury.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 204 E. Chestnut Street, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on August 30, 2005 2:09 PM