Bobbie Lee Steele, a resident of
Dothan, Alabama, passed away peacefully September 2, 2023, at Southeast Health, surrounded by his loving family. He was 93 years old.
Bob was born March 29, 1930, in Beattyville, KY. He began working in the coal mines at an early age until he was old enough to join the U.S. Air Force at age 17. He then began his 21-year military career with basic training in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, only returning briefly to Kentucky to marry the love of his life, Marlene Godsey, in 1952. Bob's military career took the family – while raising 3 daughters – to
Washington, DC, Tachikawa, Japan, and
Wichita Falls, Texas. During his career, Bob also did tours in Thule, Greenland, working on advanced radar systems during the Cold War, and in Vietnam, establishing communication links between U.S. military outposts. He was the recipient of numerous medals and awards and established himself as an expert in telephonic communications. Bob completed his Air Force career as an Air Education and Training Command instructor, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.
Because of his communications expertise, Bob was recruited by a number of telephone corporations, and he began a second career in management with GTE (now Verizon) and moved his family to
Dothan, AL. After 17 years with GTE in Dothan and their corporate headquarters in
Durham, NC, Bob retired permanently and he and Marlene returned to the Dothan area where he enjoyed gardening, carpentry, traveling, fishing, watching Kentucky basketball and PGA golf, and spending time with family for many years.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Etta Steele; brother, Billy; sisters, Cathlene Taylor, and Idell Hook; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Eura and Arminta (Mint) Godsey.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marlene Godsey Steele; his daughters, Debbie (Rex) Cobb of
Taylors, SC, DeNiece (Jon) Smith of
Auburn, AL, and Dianna (Gary) Baker of
Yulee, FL; his grandchildren, Jeremy (Mary) Cobb of
Newberry, SC, Jennifer (Josh) Owens of
Taylors, SC, and Sydney (Will) Hewitt of
Auburn, AL; his great-grandchildren, Sullivan and Emery Owens of
Taylors, SC, and Eliza, J.W., and Espie Hewitt of
Auburn, AL; a step-great-grandchild, Devin Davis of
Newberry, SC; and a sister, Myrtle Jean (Pete) Carroll,
Fairborn, OH.
The family will be holding a private graveside service, on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Gardens of Memory Cemetery with Rev. Billy Rich officiating and Glover Funeral Home directing. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the
Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org or
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org.