Robert Bissey

BISSEY, Robert Robert Myers Bissey passed away Saturday after a brief illness at the age of 81 and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Pauline Slota Bissey. Born in Plainville, Indiana on May 4, 1923 , he was the son of Eilot Elery and Bertha Myers Bissey. Mr. Bissey, a graduate of Indiana State University, was a pilot in the United States Coast Guard and served during World War II and the Korean War. He retired as Captain after serving 38 years of combined active and reserve duty. Following active duty, he joined United Services Life Insurance Company and moved his family to Charleston in 1956, where he became active in his church and community. He and his wife were active members of Blessed Sacrament Church where he was most recently a member of the Senior Church Choir. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus having served as Grand Knight of Council 704, Faithful Navigator of Rev. P.N. Lynch Assembly 4th Degree and Master of the District of South Carolina. Mr. Bissey was also a Past President of the Bishop England High School Triple B Club, an associate member of the Lion's Club International and the Irish Historical Society. A member of the Country Club of Charleston, he was an avid golfer, having scored two holes-in-one. During retirement, he continued golfing and pursued gardening and bridge. He was predeceased by a son, Bryan Robert Bissey and a daughter, Anne Teresa Bissey. In addition to his wife , Mr. Bissey is survived by five children: Diana B. Preston and her husband, Larry, of Lilburn, Ga; Dean Bissey, and his wife, Patricia, of Melbourne Beach, FL; Claudia B. Budds, and her husband, Carey, of Mt. Pleasant; Craig Bissey of John's Island and Barbara B. Haney and her husband, Jeff, of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Tracy, Jennifer and Brian Preston; Lauren, John, Mark and Jessica Bissey; Sarah and Kathleen Budds; Kristin and Lauren Haney. His Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home 1620 Savannah Hwy. on Tuesday evening between 5:30 and 8:00 PM. Please make memorial contributions to either Bishop England High School Annual Fund or Blessed Sacrament Church Building Fund. Arrangements by JAMES A. MCALISTER, INC. 766-1365. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.