Robert J. "Bob" Hollis

HOLLIS MOCKSVILLE ~ Robert J. "Bob" Hollis May 8, 1926 ~ Sept. 5, 2011 Robert J. "Bob" Hollis, a veteran, husband, father, brother, business owner, and philanthropist, passed away on September 5, 2011 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. He was born in Sulligent Alabama, May 8, 1926, son of Ed Hollis and Louise Evans. In 1944 he enrolled in basic training in Great Lakes, IL. After completing boot camp, he worked at Bainbridge, MD, Shumaker, CA, Jacksonville, FL, Memphis, TN, and Brooklyn, NY. Having an interest in food service, he went to Commissary School in Newport, Rhode Island. Later he attended the club management program in Patuxent River, MD. His tour of duty continued in Pensacola, FL, Los Alamitos, CA, and back to Brooklyn, NY where he retired as a club manager/ Master Chief E9. Through the years, the titles he achieved included Chief Petty Officer in 1958, Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1961, Master Chief Petty Officer in 1963 and Mess Management Specialist in 1968. Bob retired after twenty-four years of active duty and continued to serve in the Fleet Reserve from 1968 to 1976. Bob married Edmonia H. Gaither on July 21, 1958 in New York. Together they had 5 children. In 1968, Bob retired as a Master Chief Mess Management Specialist. He and Edmonia moved from New York to Mocksville, NC. He worked as a car salesman at Lou Healy Chevrolet in Winston-Salem until he began working for the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department. He retired as Food Service Administrator/Deputy Sheriff in 1989. The Navy provided opportunities to learn a trade, and he took courses in refrigeration and air conditioning. Receiving that education along with experience in administration gave him the impetus to start his own business. He opened Bob Appliance Sales in 1975. The business started in his garage, where he sold TV's, VCR's, appliances, and furniture. With a growing business, in 1979 he built a building on his property and moved the business there. An avid fan of automobiles and a successful entrepreneur, he added Hollis Auto Sales to the business in 1998. Bob was active in the community and was a member of the North Davie Ruritan Club, the N.C. Sheriff's Association, and the Palmetto Cemetery Association. He was preceded in death by one son, Robert G. "Bobby" Gaither; and seven siblings. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Edmonia Holman Gaither Hollis of the home; one son, James E. Hollis and his fianc‚ Victoria Chang of Taipei, Taiwan; three daughters, Stella Hollis of Memphis, TN, Louise Gaither of Mocksville, and Mary H. Newsome of Fayetteville, NC; one sister, Betty Woods (Willie) Justice of Memphis, TN; three grandchildren, Kenyon Hollis, Tonja Goosby, and Stephan Newsome; three great-grandchildren, Aaron Goosby, Ajai Newsome, and Leiann Barrow; one daughter-in-law, Victoria Gaither; four sisters-in-law, Ora Hollis of AR, Eva Turner of Statesville, Nellie Ramsue of Salisbury, and Mary Holman of New York City; special friends, Rhonda (Donald) Hendrix and Debbie Groce; a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Special thanks to Dr. Franklin Tolbert of WFU Physicians, Dr. Denise Laurienti and Nephrology Associates, Dr. Gary Renaldo and W-S Cardiologists, Dr. Liliana Rivis and Terri Everett of the VA Clinic, doctors and staff of Forsyth Medical Center, Nurse "Razzi" Padgett of VA Home Health, and the Davie Kidney Center. Funeral Service will be today at 6 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home in Mocksville. Eld. Raymond Robinson will officiate and Pastor Emeritus John Mason will deliver the eulogy. Burial will follow on Monday in National Cemetery in Salisbury at 11:00 AM. Memorials to North Davie Ruritan Club, 3190 U.S. Hwy. 601-N, Mocksville, NC 27028 or Davie Kidney Center, 190 Interstate Drive, Mocksville, NC 27028. Condolences can be made at www.GrahamFuneral Home.net.