Robert A. Reynolds

Obituary | Robert Allen "Bob" REYNOLDS

Departed this life suddenly at the age of 73 years Wednesday, July 17th, 2025, at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, on July 28th, 1951, to the late Harvey Edwards and Margaret Rives Jamison Reynolds. Beloved husband of Diane Brock Reynolds of Berea, Kentucky, father of Amy Michelle Reynolds (Brad) Mansfield of Easley, South Carolina and Amber Nicole Reynolds (Michael) Miller, Travelers Rest, South Carolina. Grandfather of Devyn Nicole LaPann (Cameron) Childs of Greer, South Carolina, Gabriel David LaPann and Aubrie Rhyss Mansfield of Easley, South Carolina and Jacob Michael and Jackson Brady Miller of Travelers Rest, South Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his younger brother Orris "Bud" Reynolds of Laredo, Texas, beloved brother of Margaret Anne Reynolds (Robert) Foster of Lexington, Kentucky, and Susan Jamison Reynolds (Tyrone) Mack of Louisville, Kentucky. Beloved nephew of Sue Jamison (Richard) Malmad of St. Petersburg, Florida. He leaves behind numerous cousins in Louisville and Frankfort, Kentucky; Atlanta, Georgia; New York; California; and North Carolina; two nephews and their family in Lexington, Kentucky and two nieces and their families in Oregon and Florida and a nephew and namesake in North Carolina.

Beginning his education at Bates Elementary in Fern Creek, Louisville, Kentucky, Bob was a 1969 graduate of Corbin High School, Corbin, Kentucky, where he was an enthusiastic member of the CHS band playing first clarinet in concert band and bass drum in marching band and served as student conductor of the CHS Pep Band.

His junior year in high school he escorted May Queen Judy Martin in the 25th Annual May Day Festival. His senior year of high school he marched in the CHS Band and played football for the Corbin Redhounds as well.

He attended First Baptist Church in Corbin where he sang solos and duets with his mother in the church choir. Early years in Cub Scouts and playing Little League football (MVP of his team in his 8th grade year), baseball and basketball gave way to many hours happily spent hunting with his dad including bow hunting for deer, camping, fishing and water skiing on Lake Cumberland with his family and friends. Trips to fish in Canada with his father and summer trips to spend time with his grandparents in Lakeland, Florida and beach vacations in Vero Beach, Florida were early highlights in his life along with holidays spent with family in Shelbyville, Kentucky, while visiting his grandmother Ruby Bowler Jamison Weakley and her extended family.

As an adult, he tried scuba diving with his brother Bud, enjoying boating, cave exploration, and traveling to spend time with his grandchildren in South Carolina and his nephews in Lexington as well as spending time with his beloved pet dogs.

He worked as a pool lifeguard during high school at the Holiday Inn in Corbin. Inspired by his father's untimely death due to complications from sleep apnea, he worked as a tech in the relatively new field of respiratory therapy at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington while attending the University of Kentucky where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

After college he worked at DuPont Lodge at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin and later was manager of the Howard Johnson motel in Corbin. He attended Hamburger U with the McDonalds Corporation, working for McDonalds franchises in South Carolina. He drove his own coal truck for several years in business with his mother and eventually followed his father in the Reynolds family's tradition, working for the L&N/Seacoast Lines/CSX railroad retiring finally from the car shop in Ravenna, Kentucky.

He enjoyed model railroading and set up a circular train set complete with corner tunnels and a working steam engine that whistled and puffed smoke at his wife Diane's railroad-themed restaurant The Main Line in Berea, Kentucky.

Wherever he lived, he kept up with his Kentucky Wildcats basketball and football games, even if only by telephoning his younger brother or sister to share play-by-play reports. His ringtone on his iPhone was the UK Fight Song and his message alerts were train whistles. He loved fast cars and eventually owned his favorite: a black on black on black 1987 Buick Grand National. Bob could be very stubborn and opinionated, but also had a heart of gold. If he cared about you, he would do anything to help as he proved on numerous occasions throughout his life with both family and friends often to his own financial detriment.

Funeral arrangements handled by Davis and Powell Funeral Home, Berea, Kentucky, with visitation from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday, July 19th. Funeral services on Sunday, July 20th at 2 pm. Rev. Stephen Hobbs will officiate. You may view the service livestream at www.davisandpowellfuneralhome.com