Robert H. Bomely, Jr.

Robert H. Bomely, Jr. passed away Monday, June 13th, 2022. Bob was born on July 19th, 1953 in Bronxville, New York to Robert and Rose (Conway) Bomely. He attended Brien McMahon High School and then joined the US Navy.  After leaving the Navy, he moved to Kokomo, Indiana where he met “the girl he was going to marry” …Jodi Bowlin. They were married at St. Luke United Methodist Church on March 19th, 1977 in Kokomo, Indiana. While in Kokomo, he obtained his Associates Degree from Ivy Tech. After the birth of their two children, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Bob LOVED…LOVED…LOVED HOLIDAYS!  He would spend hours decorating the house with Christmas lights. On July 4th, he would spend the whole day setting up fireworks to entertain the neighborhood. For Halloween, he spent days and nights carving out pumpkins. He also had a passion for cooking large meals for the entire family. Bob baked cakes weekly for the football team and cheerleading squad at Central High School. For years, Bob served as a Scout Master for Cub Scout Pack #25 and Boy Scout Troop Leader in the ‘80s and ‘90s. and he did volunteer work for MADD. He was also in the Citizen’s Police Academy. He was a member of Fountain City Baptist Church   He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Robert Bomely, Sr.; and his younger brother, Richard Bomely.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jodi; daughter, August Askins; son, Jacob; #1 grand girls, Anna and Lily; mother, Rose of Trumbull, Connecticut; sister, Nannette (Darrel) Sheley; brother and best friend, Bruce (Mary) Bomely of Sandy Hook, Connecticut; sister-in-law, Vivian Ramer of Kokomo, Indiana; and brother-in-law, Chris Jackson of Kokomo, Indiana; along with various nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made by donating blood to the American Red Cross. Family services will be private. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel and Crematory is honored to serve the Bomely family.

In honor of Robert H. Bomely, Jr.

The war lasted for eight months and 27 days.

It began with stealth. Fatigue came in the night, and stealthily, slowly chipped away at our Hero, but he was determined to overcome and persevere through Fatigue's advances. Low Blood Counts arrived on the battlefield and attacked our Hero on three fronts, bringing down his white knights and his red knights and his platelet armor. Allies, versed in medicinal lore, came to the aid of our Hero and brought new red knights and sometimes platelets and each time our Hero stood again against Fatigue and Low Blood Counts and for several weeks the battle raged as the enemy scored advantages and weakened our Hero. His Allies came to his aid at every juncture, fortified him and boosted him up. Brief lulls in battle were spent with those he loved most, and his foremost thought was always for his family. 

The enemy saw that our Hero was brave and tenacious and brought forth a mighty plague called AML which raged against our Hero as he fought to stand his ground. This plague said ''I will ravage your blood and marrow'' but our Hero refused to yield. Bravely he dug deeper into his soul and from his depths sought to repel the horde that was set upon him. Again and again, they launched their joint attacks and again and again, with the aid of his allies, our Hero repelled them from his walls.

Angry and frustrated at their inability to subdue him, Fatigue, Low Blood Counts and AML conspired in secret and brought Infection into the fray. Our beloved Hero buckled but refused to fall. For twenty days, every single day, he fought Infection - and after twenty days he triumphed over this enemy. Again, his loves sought to be in his presence as he caught his breath between assaults. Fatigue, Low Blood Counts, AML and Infection were enraged at the strength, courage, honor and determination of our Hero and so they plotted late one night and sought to unleash the harshest foe against our Hero .... Fever.  Fever came with no mercy, relentlessly attacking, day after day, hour after hour. His enemies attacked in unison - Fatigue, Low Blood Counts, AML, Infection and Fever and it took this army of enemies 8 months and 27 days to bring our Hero down. To the very end, he fought bravely as those who loved him watched helplessly, unable to come to his aid. Our splendid, brave oh-so-beloved Hero breathed his last on June 13th, 2022. We called him husband, dad, and friend. He will be our Hero forever.

Adapted from Caroline Dianne Bertozzi with permission.

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