Robert Franklin Sprinkle

Reverend Robert "Bob" Franklin Sprinkle, Jr. age 78, passed into eternity with his Savior on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, NC.
The family will receive friends from 5-6 pm on Monday, October 7th, 2024 at Filbert Presbyterian Church, 2066 Filbert Hwy York, SC 29745. A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will start at 6 pm in the church fellowship hall with Reverend Wallace Tinsley officiating.
Bob leaves behind two daughters, Rachel Sprinkle, of Cramerton, NC, and Sarah Sprinkle Smith of Stanley, NC; son-in-law Duane Smith; and five grandchildren, Tegan, Kaela, Bryn, Aidan and Levi Smith. He was the devoted husband of Judith Elaine (Templeton) Sprinkle, deceased in 2020, of Sharon, SC.
Bob was born on December 23, 1945 in Norton, VA, and was the son of the late Robert Franklin Sprinkle, Sr., and Neva Noreen Riddle Sprinkle.
Bob grew up in Appalachia, VA where his father managed the Sands Company Store. He was surrounded by miners' families who came to town from the nearby coal camps, and the railroad workers who moved the coal. They lived for many years with his grandparents on a little spot of land in the middle of the railroads that ran through town, since his grandfather was a railway inspector. He grew up around grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Bob came to Christ at an early age from his mother's influence, and he felt the call to ministry as early as twelve years old. Bob spent as much time as possible in the mountains of the national forests that bordered Appalachia. He hiked through the woods, exploring and studying God's creation, but always found his way home.
When Bob was 16, his father was transferred to Knoxville, TN. He finished his last year of high school and started college at the University of Tennessee. He majored in Botany because he loved nature, and hiked through the Smokies, helping to monitor environmental conditions in the forest. He graduated from UT in 1968.
It was in Knoxville in his college years that he would meet a beautiful young nursing student, Elaine, on a blind date that his Sunday school teacher arranged. She became his wife and lifetime companion of 51 years. They were married in August of 1969, and traveled through the remnants of Hurricane Camille on their simultaneous honeymoon and move to Jackson, Mississippi to pursue pastoral training at Reformed Theology Seminary (RTS). He received his M.Div in 1971.
He was the pastor at Newport Presbyterian Church in Newport, TN from 1971-1978.
He moved to Valley Pike Presbyterian Church in Bristol, TN and pastored there from 1978 - 1992. He was a part of the creation of the Presbyterian Church of America, which was an important part of his life. In 1985, Bob and Elaine became "pioneers" with others in the early American homeschool movement, by choosing to homeschool Sarah and Rachel, and continued through their graduation.
In 1992 the family moved to Sharon, SC, where Bob pastored at Temple Presbyterian Church in Clover, SC. They built their life there for the remainder of his ministry career. He retired in 2018, and they continued to live there until 2020 when Elaine passed away. While at Temple, Bob was a founding member of Fellowship Presbytery, and the Stated Clerk from 1994-2020. He also served as a part-time hospice chaplain for several years.
For the last four years of his life, he lived with his daughter Sarah and her family in Stanley, NC, where he attended Christ Church Associate Reformed Presbyterian in Denver, NC.
Besides his ministry, his great joys were spending time with his family, reading, hiking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. He put caring for his family and friends as his priority always. He was always ready to help in whatever way he could – caring for his parents while they were living, working on a car for Elaine or his daughters, or babysitting his grandkids. Bob's faith was built on Christ as his Savior, and he trusted in His death and resurrection as his only hope for salvation.
The family would like to thank Chef & Chauffeur Companion Care for their compassionate help with Bob over the last year and a half. They also appreciate the care that Lakewood Care Center gave him in the last two months. Our heartfelt gratitude also goes out to many other friends who have visited, helped, cared for and prayed for Bob since he came to North Carolina for his final years.
In lieu of flowers, it was Bob's wish that donations go to Temple Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 733, York SC 29745.
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