Robert "Bob" Ernest Wamsley

Robert Ernest Wamsley, 85, husband of Lillie Mildred Wamsley for 65 years, was called home to Heaven on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Reverend Wamsley was born on February 24, 1925 in Folsom, PA to the late Willard Ernest and Marie Reinerth Wamsley. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Janice Flinte and husband Helmut of Greenville; a son Stephen Wamsley and wife Elaine of Mansfield, Ohio; a son Kevin Wamsley and wife Sally of Hilton Head; a son Phillip and wife Robin of Mansfield, Ohio; fifteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, a brother Willard Wamsley of Media, PA; and a brother Donald Wamsley of Simpsonville. He was predeceased by sisters Betty Adkins and Dorothy Tallardy. Reverend Wamsley served his country as a Corporal in the Marine Corps in WWII. He was a 1955 graduate of Bob Jones University, a pastor, evangelist, and a faithful soldier of the Cross for over 60 years. Visitation will be at Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC, on Saturday, January 29 from 12:30 until 1:50 followed by a service at 2 pm. Interment will be Monday, January 31 at 1:00pm at the M. J. "Dolly" Cooper Verterans Cemetery, in Anderson. Father Willard Ernest Wamsley (April 22, 1897-May 15, 1981) Lew Beach Beach, New York. He was a welder and owner of “Bonnie View” hunting and fishing lodge in the Catskill Mountains. Mother Marie “Mitzi” Reinerth (September 5, 1898-September 20, 1988) Mediash (Transylvania Valley), Austria-Hungary. She reared five children (Wilbur, Dorothy, Robert, Betty, and Don), was an entrepreneur and helped manage “Bonnie View.” Wife Bob met Lillie Mildred True (August 20, 1925) in Lexington, Kentucky on August 18, 1941 two days before a True family reunion. They were married by Rev. Yarndell Page on April 10, 1946 in Georgetown Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Kentucky. Educational and Military Training • Graduated Ridley Township High School, 1950 • Attended Isaiah V. Williams School of Mechanical Trades, 1941 • Graduated Armorer’s School, US Marine Corps, Quartermaster’s Department, Philadelphia, 1943 • Philadelphia Navy Yard Private First Class, 1943 • Honorable discharge atUnited States Marine Corps M.B. Training Center, Bainbridge, MD, 1946 • Student University of Tennessee, 1952-3 • Graduated Bob Jones University, B.A., 1955 Fascinating Military Memories During WWII Bob Wamsley and thousands of other marines crossed the International Dateline on the USSC G. Morton destined for a classified Pacific location. “Fideli Gerta Merges!” After breaking his wrist during training on Guadalcanal, Bob was granted a request for transfer, and was thus spared the invasion of Iwo Jima. He later regarded this as the providence of God because he was unsaved. The troops were given the Japanese etiquette Manuel “Nausei Shoto” to prepare them for living among the Japanese after the invasion of the mainland. With M1 rifles held high, hundreds of young men (including Bob) plunged into the tropical waters and made for the large island of Okinawa. They repeated this grueling maneuver many times on the shore of the island. The U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Japan finally surrendered! As the Japanese and General Douglas MacArthur signed the peace treaty, September 2, 1945 atop the Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Corporal Wamsley was privileged to be aboard a land craft which was sailing directly under the bow of the battleship. Salvation Bob Wamsley was led to the Lord by faithful preacher Harold Kilpatrick of Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee around October 15, 1949. He was registered to perform marriages in Bedford County Tennessee on February 20, 1950. Ordination In April of 1951, Bob, Bodie Troupe and Carlton Bell were ordained by a counsel of eighteen Southern Baptist Association pastors in Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church. Ministries • Co-founder: Airport Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina • Co-pastor: Globe Mill Village Church, Gaffney, South Carolina • Assistant Superintendent: Greenville Rescue Mission, Mission Home for Unwed Mothers, Greenville, South Carolina • Superintendent: Marion Union Rescue Mission, Marion, Ohio • Interim Pastor: Brush Ridge Baptist Church, Brush Ridge, Ohio • Manager/Bible Teacher: Grand Valley Ranch, Rock Creek, Ohio • Staff Member: City Mission of Cleveland, Ohio • President: International Union of Gospel Missions, Central District • Pastor: Eagleville Bible Church, Jefferson, Ohio • Executive Director & Field Representative - Pleasant Valley Ranch, Loudenville, Ohio • Pastor: Springfield Baptist Temple, Springfield, Ohio • Pastor: Bible Baptist Church, Tifton, Georgia • Pastor: Jackson Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia • Founder & Evangelist: The New Life Foundation, Tifton, Georgia

Robert "Bob" Ernest Wamsley

February 24, 1925 - January 25, 2011