Robert Bruce Hornbuckle

Robert Bruce Hornbuckle of Valdosta, passed away at home on December 23, 2008. He was born in Atlanta on September 16, 1930, to the late George N. and Ruth Baker Hornbuckle. Mr. Hornbuckle was a member of the University of Georgia 1950 and 1951 football team and was co-captain of the 1952 Track and Field squad. Upon graduation from college, he enlisted in the Air Force and was a pilot during the Korean War. Following his release from active duty in 1957, he opened Bob's Shoe Store, in downtown Valdosta and operated it until the late 1960's. During that time he was a member of the downtown merchants association and served as its president for a term. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church, the 2/10 Benevolent Footwear Association, and Mensa. He went on to become National Sales Manager with the Craddock-Terry Shoe Corporation of Lynchburg, VA, and later with the United States Shoe Corporation in Cincinnati, OH. He was a published author, with his most recent book, Looking for Billy Bowlegs, in October 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Weeks Hornbuckle of Valdosta; son, Bruce Darby Hornbuckle of Kennesaw; daughter, Brenda Kaye Pridgen of Valdosta; granddaughter and her husband, Lacey Brooke Stephens and Shad Stephens, granddaughter, Lindsey Kaye Davis, all of Valdosta; grandson, Scottie Hornbuckle of Trion; brother, George N. Hornbuckle, Jr. of Lithonia; nephews, David and Greg Hornbuckle of Atlanta; step-daughters and their husbands, Jan and Steve Hannay of Valdosta, Lisa and David Bailey of Tallahassee, FL, Robin and Ben Baker of Dacula; step-granddaughters, Allison Shenton and her husband, Chad of Valdosta, Kaitlyn Hannay of Athens; step-grandsons, Stephen Hannay and his wife, Brock of Elloree, SC, Andrew Baker of Dacula; step-great-grandchildren, Dalton Stephens, Charley Shenton, and Bo Shenton all of Valdosta.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Mac Weaver officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of South Georgia, 2263 Pineview Dr., Valdosta, GA, 31602 or Pearlman Cancer Center at South Georgia Medical Center, 2501 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31602. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602