Bobby Earl Hurst

Bobby Earl Hurst, born July 4, 1929, passed away on August 19, 2023. Bob was born to Jennings Walton and Falba Ann Hurst in Dalhart TX, the oldest of 6 children. After graduation from high school in CA, he subsequently joined the US Navy and served for 4 years, primarily on the USS Princeton during the Korean conflict. He met his first wife, Lorraine, while stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base and married in 1951. After his time in the Navy, Bob and his family lived in Waukegan, IL where he worked for Johnson Motors.

In 1959, Bob and his family moved to Orlando where he began his lifelong career as owner of Bob's Boats & Motors, a business he built into a highly successful marine dealership. Bob was instrumental in forming the Central Florida Marine Trades Association, an association that included all of Central Florida's marine dealers. He also spearheaded the Marine Trades Boat Show, an annual, 4 day event attended by 1000's that grew larger with each passing year. Bob sold his business upon his retirement in 1998.

Known to everyone as "Captain Bob", he was passionate about his business, boating, fishing and golf. He was known for his hilarious fishing trip stories and always had a joke for everyone. Bob remarried in 2017 to the second love of his life, LeVera, and spent his last years extremely happy and content.

Bob is preceded in death by his brothers, Billy and Don, his sisters, Kathleen Hurst and Edna Jo Bills, and his first wife, Lorraine. He is survived by his wife LeVera, his sister, Lynn Hurst, his daughter, Susan Clem, his stepdaughters Duuana Phillips and Casssandra McCall, his grandchildren, John Clem and Lori Clem, 7 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

A private internment will be held in memory of Captain Bob.