Robert Lee Holcombe

Robert Lee “Bobby” Holcombe, Jr A very special and beloved man was taken to his eternal home on Saturday, June 19, 2021.Robert L. Holcombe, Jr. died at Atrium Hospital in Charlotte, NC with his son, Lee, at his side. He will be missed not only by his family, but also by the numerous lifelong friends he has made and cherished.A Graveside Service will be held 11:00 AM Friday June 25, 2021,at Armenia United Methodist Church Cemetery with Reverend Mike Burgess officiating. Born in Chester, South Carolina on October 21, 1931, Bobby was the son of the late Lucile Conrad King and Robert L. Holcombe, Sr.He was an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Chester until recently, and a former Sunday School teacher.He served on the Chester County Hospital Board as chairman, as well as working with the Chester County School system, Chester County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Chester County, The American Red Cross, The Turning Point and numerous other organizations.He received the first Community Service Award presented by the Chester County Chamber of Commerce & Duke Energy.He was a former member of the SC National Guard and has friends in Anniston, Alabama made through annual training there each year. Bobby first joined Springs Industries in 1948 at the age of 16, while also playing baseball for Chester High School.After graduation, he continued working for Springs and later took a clerical job at the newly created Springmaid Credit Union (now Founders Federal Credit Union) in Chester, becoming manager of that office at age 21. In 1960, he became the first Personnel Manager overseeing the Springsteen, Eureka and Gayle plants in Chester, eventually becoming Manager of Central Personnel at the Fort Mill headquarters in 1966.Over the next two decades, he was named Director of Personnel for the Apparel Fabrics Division then company-wide Director of Employee Relations including the New York office. After retiring as Vice President of Employee Relations for Springs Industries in 1990, he served as their Personnel Consultant in Sardis, Mississippi.He was also a charter member of the Springs Close Foundation Board.In August of 2018 he retired from the Foundation and was presented with The Springs Close Foundation Legacy Award for 71 years of service. Mr. Holcombe was preceded in death by three sons; an infant son, Frank Bradley Holcombe and Thomas Lane Holcombe, his sister Betty H. Fennell andhis nephew, John Eric Fennell. Bobby is survived by his wife, Barbara Yarborough Holcombe, his son, R. Lee Holcombe III & his wife Paula (Flinchum), his granddaughter, Allison H. Little (A.J.); grandson, Robert A. Holcombe; nephew, Barry C. Fennell; sister-in-law, Brenda Y. Green; niece, Kay G. Lee (Michael) and family; niece, Lisa B. Green and nephew Miller Green (Alisha) and sons; special friends Kristin Lawson Fairfax and Brooke Wilson Clinton. He was a humble, selfless, thoughtful, friendly man who helped and supported others ─ not for recognition or glory, but because it was who he was.He always did what he believed to be the right thing.However, his friends knew he had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to play pranks on people and send outrageous cards and notes.One of his favorite pastimes was reading through his collection of old Springs Bulletins and sending copies of articles to people in the articles. Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church PO Box 751 Chester, South Carolina 29706. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com.