Robert Sylvester "Bobby" Capps

Robert Sylvester “Bobby” Capps, 87, of Asheville, NC, passed away after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Bobby was born and raised in the Upper Brush Creek community of Madison Co., NC. He was the son of the late William Riley Capps and Ollie Cody Capps, and he was the youngest of five children and the only son. He was preceded in death by all of his sisters: Virginia, Meryl, Kathleen and Mildred.

Bobby was a 1956 graduate of Walnut High School. After graduating, he went to work driving a delivery feed truck and helping his dad farm. He then went to work for A&P Grocery Store and 21 years in the grocery business. He also worked for the American Red Cross, a job that he truly enjoyed and was passionate about, retiring after 23 years. He still worked for the Red Cross after retirement, but as a volunteer going on disaster relief trips, including spending three weeks in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, along with multiple other trips. He was a proud blood donor and received his 100-gallon platelet donor pin before his health prevented him to continue to donate.

While working for A&P, Bobby made a lifelong friend named “Little” Charlie Edmundson. He invited him to go on Wyoming hunting trips with his brother “Big” Charlie, who lived in Wyoming. This led to more than a dozen trips to Wyoming, and trips to Colorado, Canada, and a trip to Alaska. Bobby was a master gardener, always growing enough vegetables to feed a small army. He was especially known for his greasy cut short “cornfield” beans, which we loved to share with family and friends. Bobby was a long-time member of Deaverview Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and on local mission projects. In his later years, he attended West Asheville Baptist Church until his health wouldn’t allow it.

Bobby is survived by his wife and soulmate, Della Mae Windel Ball Capps. They married on May 7, 1963, and have been happily married for over 62 years. He is also survived by daughter, Brenda Jean Capps, of Asheville; son, Tim Capps (Nita), of Asheville; twin granddaughters, Hailey Capps, of Asheville, and Hannah Capps (Cam), of Fuquay-Varina, NC; and his faithful canine companion, Sandy.

His family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. The funeral service will follow at 6:00 p.m. The Rev. Kelvin Moseley will officiate. Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 5, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Four Seasons Hospice for their kindness, support and care. A special thank you to Dr. Justin Parker for his compassionate and gracious care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Asheville chapter of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, 100 Edgewood Road Asheville, NC 28804.