Obituary of Robert W Earnest

Funeral services for Robert W. Earnest, Sr., age 79, of Roanoke will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 2:00 PM from Benefield Funeral Chapel with Rev. Keith Benefield officiating. Burial will follow at Rock Springs Cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Friday, March 28, 2014. Mr. Earnest passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2014, at his residence. Survivors include: three daughters; Wilma Ann Sheats, Vera Marie Noles, and Janie Ruth Blackmon, all of Roanoke; three sons, Johnny Earnest of Wedowee, Stanley Earnest of Rock Mills, and Robert Earnest, Jr., of Roanoke; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Sandra Sheppard of Wedowee, Martha Clack of Roanoke, and Patricia Watson of Union City, GA; and two brothers, Vernon Watson of Jackson Gap and James Watson of Roanoke. Pallbearers will be D.J. Sudduth, David Sudduth, Anthony Bozeman, Derrick Bozeman, Johnny Kosza, and Clark Benefield. Honorary pallbearers will be Todd Sanders and Kevin Watson. A Roanoke native, Mr. Earnest was born on October 3, 1934, the son of Lewis and Pauline Kirby Earnest. He was a truck driver for Wilson's Truck out of North Carolina and was Baptist by faith. Mr. Earnest was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Olean Norris, Bonnie Moncus, Mable Martin, and Annie Ruth Earnest; one brother, Fred Earnest; and grandsons, Kyle Blackmon and Cody Bozeman.