- Date Of Birth: February 10, 1928
- Date Of Death: March 23, 2012
- State: Mississippi
Robert Joel Finley, a true renaissance man, was born February 10, 1928 in Allen, Oklahoma and died March 23, 2012 in Picayune, Mississippi. Bob was a Navy pilot, an architect, contractor, fisherman, hunter, dancer, farmer, scuba diver, and more. Above all he was a family man, married to Shannon Martin Finley for fifty-seven years. They have four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild Bob was recruited by the Navy in high school through a nationwide testing for airplane pilots. He loved his time in the Navy, flying corsairs, seaplanes, SSJs and other aircraft. His specialty in the Navy was anti-submarine warcraft. He flew missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and flew security for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He received his wings at the age of twenty-two. He left active service, but stayed in the Naval Reserves and retired after twenty-two years as a Lieutenant Commander. Bob started college on the GI Bill and received his degree in architecture from LSU in 1957. He started his own construction company, Bob Finley, Inc., in Baton Rouge in 1960. For over thirty years he built houses, roads, buildings, bomb shelters, and bridges. He had the first slipform concrete barrier machine in Louisiana, putting in many of the Interstate medians you see there today Bob was a wonderful ballroom dancer, and taught at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Baton Rouge to support himself through college. Shannon Martin moved from Picayune, Mississippi to work for the phone company in Baton Rouge, and took dancing lessons to meet people. That is where Bob and Shannon met and fell in love Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed learning about and mastering new skills. He owned and flew small planes, and built and flew a Kitfox. He owned boats and enjoyed fishing, particularly deep sea fishing, as well as scuba diving. He loved to hunt, garden, and travel the United States in an RV. Bob and Shannon had four children together. Kathleen was born in 1955, Martin in 1958, John in 1961, and Bob in 1963. Kathleen is married to Corley (Beau) Senyard and they have two children, Brandy and Kristen, and one grandchild, Ava. They live in Mount Airy, Maryland. Martin was formerly married to Sandra Knaub, and they have one child, Michelle. He lives in Picayune. John is married to Sherri Melton, and they have four children; Hannah (married to Blane Young), Christine, Joel, and Jack. They live in Hoover, Alabama. Bob is married to Elizabeth Bankston, and they have two children, Polly and Jessie. They live in Belle Chase, Louisiana.. After retiring, Bob and Shannon moved to Picayune in 1999, and have lived there ever since. They enjoyed so much the beautiful land and living near Shannon’s family and had a wonderful time of retirement.. Pastor Robin Martin will be speaking..
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