Robert Lee "Bobby" Basham, Sr. of 204 Rose Street Hinton,WV went from Almost Heaven' to Heaven Monday May 2, 2016 at Springfield Care Center at Lindside. He was 79 years young.

Born December 9, 1936 on South Side, New River, he was the son of the late Robert Lindsey Basham and Arlene Basham McPeake. He lived in his beloved Hinton his entire life.

Bobby is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Jo Mann Basham; a son, Robert L. "Little Bobby" Basham, Jr. and wife Sandy of Manakin-Sabot, VA; special niece, Rhonda Mann Fleet of Centerville, OH; sister, Joyce Bragg (Daryl) of Lerona; special aunt, June Meadows of Hinton; aunts, Betty Girard of Big Springs, TX and Jackie Bricker of Columbia, KY; a brother-in-law, Roger Mann and wife Sharon of Hinton andseveral nieces and nephews also survive

Bobby attended Hinton High School, where he excelled in football. He was a retired locomotive engineer for CSX Transportation Corporation for 38 years. He took great pride in his community, coaching elementary basketball and Little League baseball for 20 years. Bobby served on Hinton City Council for almost 3 terms and was an active member of the Railroad Days Committee. A proud veteran, he served his country in the Army as Sargent First Class and was a member of the WV National Guard, having been called up during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. He was active duty with 28 years of service with WV National Guard Howitzer Battery 150th Armed Calvary Regiment. He also served as Vice President of the Veteran's Museum in Hinton. Bobby was also past President of the Summers County Visitors Bureau and led the fight to save the historical colors of orange and black for the new Summers County High School. He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Hinton and member of the Fidelis Sunday School class at the church, where he entertained the ladies with his humor. He was a devoted husband and father and an avid outdoorsman. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother Gerald.

A celebration of life for a man who loved life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday May 6, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Hinton with Pastors Jeff Canterbury and Roy Carter officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will follow in Restwood Memorial Gardens in Hinton. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Pivont Funeral Home in Hinton, and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church.

Pallbearers will be; Joe Blankenship, Pat Jordan, Jimmy Worles, Johnny Wygal, Steve Pack, Wayne Ryan, Don Williams, Pat Hanifan and Gene Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be; Tom Patrick, Larry Meador and the ladies of the Fidelis Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church.

Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to the Hinton Railroad Museum, 206 Temple St. Hinton, WV 25951 or the Hinton Veterans Museum, 419 Ballengee St. Hinton, WV 25951.