Robert Vern "Bob" Lakey

Robert "Bob" Vern Lakey, born on September 11, 1942, passed away peacefully in Covington, Tennessee, on October 26, 2025.
Bob grew up in Anderson, Indiana, where he graduated from high school. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert George Lakey and Elenore Louise Frame.
He is survived by his wife, Evelynn Miller-Lakey; three daughters, Mary Beth Lakey of Covington, TN; Jennifer Anne Davey of Memphis, TN; and Barbara "Lynn" Blose (Russ) of Nashville, TN; and four grandchildren, Jackson, Garrison, and Marianna Blose of Nashville, TN, and Ellyson Davey of Memphis, TN.
Bob was a devoted grandfather "GrandBob" whose greatest joy was found in the laughter and love of his grandchildren, each of whom he cherished beyond measure.
Bob began his military career with a naval commission in the late 1950s and went on active duty at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Millington, TN, in 1960. He served six years during the Vietnam era and was assigned to the Navy's elite "Hurricane Hunters," collecting meteorological data from inside hurricanes for transmission to the weather center in Miami.
Following his military service, Bob joined the American Radio Corporation of America at Kennedy Space Center, and later Boeing, where he contributed to the historic Apollo lunar missions. One of his proudest achievements was receiving a certificate recognizing his role in the launch of Apollo 11-the mission that first landed humans on the moon in 1969.
Bob's career in electronics eventually led him to become co-owner and operator of KBJ-TV and radio stations WKBL-AM and WKBQ-FM in Covington, TN. He was deeply committed to his community, giving countless hours of service through the Covington Jaycees and the Lions/Exchange Club.
In reflection, Bob often expressed his gratitude for those who serve in the military, saying, "Every young person thinking about college should know that the military is a great place to get an education and training. It's a win-win."
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 30 at the Covington Funeral Home chapel with interment to follow in Covington Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
The family requests that donations be made to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Tipton County Museum, Veterans Memorial and Nature Center.