Robert Allen "Bob" Bisplinghoff

Robert Allan "Bob" Bisplinghoff was born on February 6, 1945, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to parents Carl Allan Bisplinghoff, Jr. and Betty Davis Bisplinghoff. While he was still very young, his family moved to Orlando, Florida, where he grew up with his brother Roger before attending Rollins College for his undergraduate degree in business. Following college, he did his graduate work in Economics at the University of Georgia, and from that point forward, Georgia became his home. After starting his career in Atlanta, he returned to Athens and served the community for many years as the co-owner of Cannon Financial Strategists from which he retired in 2003. On September 12, 1994, Bob met the love of his life and true companion, Betty Bell Shockley. The two wed after a whirlwind romance, and Bob spent the remainder of his life celebrating, reveling in and nurturing that relationship.

It is nothing more than truth that health and happiness flow easily from one another, and Bob was blessed with both for most of his life. He was hearty and strong; he was successful in business; he was loved by friends, and he was cherished by family; happiness was easy. It is when one chooses happiness at a time when self pity and defeat would be the less difficult path that one becomes a hero. For the last four and a half years, Bob waged a war against cancer,. Valiant and brave in every stage of the battle, he woke up everyday and achieved victory over his adversary with each cross word puzzle he completed to jump start his mind for the day, each sausage biscuit from Strickland's he savored when Betty wasn't watching, each game of golf that he dominated (even after having a surgery that would have forced most men to retire entirely from the game), each bridge tournament over which he reigned supreme, each spy thriller he devoured to keep his imagination at play, each walk he took with his dogs to remind him that love comes in all shapes and sizes, each voyage he took to the ocean to ring in the New Year under fireworks and share a perfect moment in colored light with Betty, each journey to the mountains where he inhaled soft, weightless air and fed his eyes with the reds, yellows and golds of autumn, each bountiful meal he enjoyed with his children around the table where anyone and everyone was always welcome, each time he laughed in a neighbor's kitchen, each time he held one of the many treasures he had Betty had collected around the world, and each time he quietly relished the beauty and peace of his own back yard. Each day of his life, Bob chose to be happy.

Bob died on July 29, 2011. He is survived by his beloved wife Betty with whom he laughed and teased and flirted while they pursued and celebrated one adventure and joy after the next during their sixteen and a half years together; his quick-witted and free-spirited step daughter, Carly Shockley, who with her own very authentic voice bestowed upon him the magically perfect title of "The Bobfather"; and his contemplative, step son Jamie Shockley, with whom he shared a deep and quiet bond built around an appreciation of the natural world and honesty in all things.

There are very few people who put one authentic foot in front of the other every day that they walk among us. Robert "The Bobfather" Bisplinghoff was one of those people, and he was loved for it. His family will remember and honor him in a private memorial where they will give his body to the ocean and celebrate all that is solid, genuine and true in this world.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Ocean Conservancy would be a wonderful remembrance. To make a gift, go towww.oceanconservancy.org where it will be necessary to input Bob's address to complete the form. Bob's home was 1461 Georgia Club Drive, Statham, Georgia 30666.