Robert William Hamden

Robert William Hamden, also known as Bob, Bobby, Big Bob, or Big Time Bob to some, passed away at the age of 40 on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He was born July 11, 1984, to Robert (Bob) and Tina (Korneisel) Hamden in Leominster, Massachusetts. Bob battled pneumonia for more than five weeks, requiring visits to two clinics and stays in two hospitals. Unfortunately, his pneumonia led to sepsis and eventual heart failure.
Bob called many places home over the years, including Lacey, Washington; Sterling Heights, Michigan; South Korea; Fort Meade, Maryland; Stuttgart, Germany; San Antonio, Texas; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Winter Park, Florida; and Virginia Beach, Virginia - some of these places were his home more than once or at different locations within the area. However, when asked where he was from, Bob would say he was from Michigan.
He played various sports, including baseball and basketball, but soccer was the game that stuck with him. Besides all the Detroit teams he rooted for 'Go Lions,' he also rooted for his favorite soccer team, Arsenal FC. Initially attending Northeastern High School, he graduated from Pasquotank County High School in 2002 with honors, was active in JROTC, and was the goalie for their soccer team. He was an Eagle Scout and a very caring individual with many friends. He played the bass guitar, held some heavy metal band practices at the family home, and had a great voice, which he demonstrated when singing karaoke. "From a Second Story Window" was the metal band he followed. Known favorites were K-Pop, Aquabats, Kylie Minogue, and Twice, yet he liked all music genres.
After graduation, Bob moved to Michigan to live with his grandparents, Richard and Jackie Korneisel. He attended Macomb Community College to establish residency in hopes of applying to the University of Michigan. Spending much of his time playing the card game Magic and working at Lakeside Mall, that goal did not pan out. He moved to Florida to attend Full Sail University, graduating in December 2004 with an Associate of Science in their Recording Arts Program. He could have used the degree to work sound in commercials or movies, but he wanted to be the soundman for musicians or bands. Returning to NC, he worked at Cypress Creek Grill as well as found the love of his life Casandra (Casey) Raper, through a mutual friend named Alex. They were engaged in June 2011, and he joined the Navy in July 2011, working in the aviation electronics field since he was quite smart, although he wanted to be a cook. In October 2011, he and Casey eloped in Pensacola, Florida, and this was not a surprise! They moved to Virginia Beach, VA, where Bob was stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, working on the FA-18 fighter jets. During his time there, he was deployed to sea multiple times.
In June 2013, he was on temporary duty in Key West, Florida, which ironically was the same time he was supposed to be on a family vacation to the nearby location of Marathon, Florida. After spending as much time as possible with Casey during his time off nine months later the joy of his life, his son, Robert (Bobby) William Hamden, was born in March of 2014.
After six years in the Navy as an AE2/E5, he was honorably discharged, though he continued to work on FA-18s at the same location on NAS Oceana. He then worked on helicopters at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, NC. His last job was with Innoveyance, setting up/fixing conveyor systems for various factories around the U.S., which put him on the road more often than not, but he was doing all he could to provide a stable home for his family.
Bob is survived by his wife, Casey, and son Bobby, both of North Carolina; parents, Bob and Tina, of North Carolina; brother, Nick Hamden (Shelby), of Washington; grandmother, Jackie Korneisel, of Michigan; father-in-law, Paul Raper (Brenda), of North Carolina; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members will miss him dearly.
Preceding Bob in death are his grandparents, Charles and Betty Hamden; grandfather, Richard Korneisel; mother-in-law, Connie Whitley; uncles, Charles Hamden and William Boguth; and a cousin, Kristin Whiteside.
Family and friends will gather at the mausoleum at West Lawn Cemetery, 1909 W. Main Street Ext., Elizabeth City, NC, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Everyone will walk to the honor ceremony to be rendered by the William Clarence Jackson VFW Post 6060 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Immediately following, the Celebration of Life will be held at the Pasquotank Ruritan Club, 2213 Main Street Ext, Elizabeth City, NC, with refreshments. The family would be grateful to hear how you knew Bob and to share memorable moments or stories. Casual attire wearing Lions (or other Detroit teams) memorabilia is encouraged. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the young family Bob left behind. These donations will be used for funeral and living expenses and should be sent to Casey Hamden at either 209 (or 211) Reedy Creek Dr., Elizabeth City, NC 27909.
Twiford Funeral Homes, 405 E. Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC, is assisting the Hamden Family. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert, please visit our floral store.