A Life In Full...

Bobby Brooks Farmer – 1931-2013

A man is defined as much by what he does as who he is. All throughout America, exceptional men live in relative obscurity, known to friends and family and not, perhaps, to the communities at large. They live lives of enormous integrity, in their work, their churches, and their homes, taking care of the people who depend upon them and the towns they live within. They are aldermen and councilmen, elders and deacons, businessmen, professionals, husbands, and fathers. As much as anyone anywhere, they are the glue of our society. They manned the ships and planes and infantry brigades during times of war, and built, then rebuilt, the country they continued to serve. This is the sort of man that Bobby Brooks Farmer was, and that was the sort of life he led.

Bob Farmer was born July 19, 1931 in Benton, KY, and died August 25, 2013, age 82, at his home in Murfreesboro, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam L. Farmer and Reba Darnall Farmer and one brother, Sam H. Farmer. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlene Emerine Farmer, and his children Jeff Farmer (Linda/ Jill, Brett, Micah & Sarah), Julia Farmer, John Farmer (Margaret/ Joshua, Ethan & Anna), and Jamie Oneida (Dene/ Sarah, Andi & Brittni). He is also survived by his brother Solon W. Farmer (Frances) and his sister-in-law Royalyn Lawrence (Dan), all from Benton, and his nephew Mark Phillips (Ann/ Colton) of Collierville, TN.

Bob graduated Benton High in 1949, was married in 1951, and then joined the Navy that same year, serving as an Electronics Technician during the Korean War aboard the USS Hornet as well as mainland assignments in Memphis, California and Florida.

Subsequent to his discharge in 1955, he attended Murray State studying pre-Pharmacy, and graduated pharmacy school at Memphis in 1959. After working for five years in Maryville, TN, and 13 years as half-owner of Martin’s Drug Store on the square at Murfreesboro, Bob was employed at the Murfreesboro VA Hospital, retiring from CMOP (Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy) in 2012 after 53 years as a pharmacist.

Bob loved sports, having played baseball and basketball as a youth. As an adult, he avidly followed the University of Kentucky basketball program, but his greatest joy was attending the countless games played by his sons and daughters, and then his grandsons and granddaughters.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, and served as a deacon, an usher, and taught Sunday School for many years. Donations may be sent to the First Baptist Church library in lieu of flowers. Services will be held Saturday, August 31 at the Woodfin Funeral Chapel on Lascassas Pike in Murfreesboro.