Robert E. Bagby, 95, of Flatwoods, KY, passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at his residence.
Mr. Bagby was born on June 1, 1926, in Portsmouth, OH, to the late Kenneth R. and Lucille Meade Bagby.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Bagby was preceded in death by five brothers: Herb, Kenneth, Levi, Bill, and Jack Bagby and two sisters, Annetta Dixon and Edna Hicks.
Robert was a self-employed painting contractor for Bagby Decorating Center in Ashland, KY. He was a member of Oak Street Freewill Baptist Church in Flatwoods, KY.
Robert answered the highest call for his country, enlisting in the Navy on July 27, 1943, and serving in the Pacific theater during World War II. R.E. was a Seaman, first class, aboard the USS Converse, which fought with Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Three. Informally known as the “Little Beavers” due to the hard work ethic of crews on board the ships. R.E. saw action during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the liberation of the Philippines, and the battle of Okinawa (to name a few). Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Three and the USS Converse’s highest honor came during the Salomon Island campaign from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. Most notably, the Battle of Cape St. George, where the Twenty-Third took on six Japanese Destroyers in submarine infested waters with Japanese sir support. Sinking four of the destroyers and suffering no loses or damages of their own, in what Naval tacticians refer to as a “near perfect surfaces maneuvers” while engaging the enemy, the Twenty Third Squadron proved their mettle and warned the Presidential Unit Citation for the actions during the Salomon Island campaign. The USS Converse lost one crew member the entirety of the war, and some historians say of the USS Converse that it was “a lucky ship” as well as a “great ship”, a “ship to be envied”. R.E. finished his service on March 4, 1946, earning a Victory Medal, an Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (seven stars), a Phillipines Liberations Ribbon (one star), and the Presidential Unit Citation. R.E. was proud of his service and his ship, and his surviving family takes great pride and remembering his naval service, and his willingness to sacrifice his life for the greater good, the United States, and the world.
Robert is survived by his loving wife of seventy-five years, Wilma Evelyn Grizzle Bagby of Flatwoods, KY; a son, Robert W. (Janet) Bagby of Flatwoods, KY; a daughter, Pamela (Dan) Watts of Flatwoods, KY; five grandchildren: Rob (Karen) Rhoden, Angelia (Clay) Boyles, Tyler (Jessica) Bagby, Drew (Ann) Bagby, and Nichole Rose; six great-grandchildren: Danica Davis, Dakota Boyles, Shanna Richie, Sophia Bagby Grayson Bagby, and Zephyr Bagby; and a host of extended family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery Northeast in Greenup, KY, with Pastor Joey Vanmeter officiating.
The family has entrusted Bailey Family Funeral Home in Flatwoods, KY with the arrangements.
Condolences can be expressed at www.baileyfamilyfuneralhome.com.