Bob Earl Bartholomew, of Crocker, was born on February 26, 1936, at Davenport, Iowa, a son of Claude Earl and Veda (Washam) Bartholomew and departed this life at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2013, at his residence near Crocker. Mr. Bartholomew had attained the age of 77 years, 2 months, and 13 days.

Mr. Bartholomew was united in marriage on February 16, 1958 at Bynumville, to Joyce Kathyrene Pope and to this union, two children were born. He was preceded in death by his father in 1979 and his mother 1982.

Mr. Bartholomew was a retired United States Army veteran serving from 1954 until 1976, and attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. Following his retirement from the Army, Mr. Bartholomew worked for 15 years at the Missouri Department of Corrections, Jefferson City. He was a member of the Crocker Church of Christ and enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, wood working, his grandchildren and being out of doors.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Bartholomew include: his wife, Joyce Bartholomew of the home near Crocker; one son, Tony Bartholomew and his companion, Jenny Hilgert, Springfield; one daughter, Debora McGuire, Crocker; two grandchildren, Matthew McGuire and his wife, Danyel and Bobby McGuire and his wife, Morgan; four sisters, Ruth Morrison, Bynumville; Helen Howell, Lees Summit; Millie Macaluso; Las Vegas, Nevada and Carol Hulett, Nixa; and many other relatives and friends.

Graveside funeral services with full military honors were conducted for Mr. Bartholomew at 1:00 p.m., Monday, May 13, 2013, in the Fitzgerald Cemetery, Bynumville, under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Hospital with envelopes available at the office of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home, Crocker.