Bobby Gene Trott

A great warrior for Christ, Bobby Trott, has gone home to be with his God. Bobby was born July 28th, 1944, in Hardee County, Florida to Johnny Jackson (JJ) and Ruby Lee (Campbell) Trott. He was one of five children and was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, TJ, Billy, and Tiny. He has a surviving sister Gail Merhar, in Lakeland, Florida. He is survived by the love of his life, Diane Trott of Roaring River, NC. His devoted daughters and sons in law Kate Cosner (Allen) and Amy Honeycutt (Jeff). He was Paw Paw to four grandchildren, Samatha Bowes aka DoPoo (Travis), Jake Williams aka Jaker Baker, Hannah Park aka Hannah Banana (Thomas) and Erin Cosner aka Peanut. He was also Paw Paw to his six great grandchildren, JJ, Christian, Jesse, Grayson, Elle, and Elijah. He was Uncle Bobby to numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by great friends and as he called them, “heart” family. Bobby was a true patriot and served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force as an Air Rescue Medic during the Vietnam war from 1965 when he was awarded the Air Medal for Meritorious Service in Aerial Flight during Operation Rolling Thunder. He served both stateside and in country till 1969 when he was honorably discharged. After returning home, he married his sweetheart, Diane and attended Rollins College where he received his BS in Criminal Justice in 1977. He became an officer with the Lakeland Police Department in Lakeland Florida. He was a gypsy who loved adventure and in 1977 he moved his young family to Beyond Hope, Idaho. Where he attended Gonzaga University and received his Masters in HR Management in 1978. After returning home to Florida in 1978, Bobby received the call to serve again, this time from his God. He obliged and moved his family once more to Wake Forest, NC where he attended Southeastern Baptist Seminary and earned his Master of Divinity in 1982. He went on as an ordained Minister to pastor churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. He was minister to Union Chapel Baptist in Zebulon, NC, West Orange Baptist in Oakland, Fl., Bailey Baptist in Bailey, NC., Buffalo Jct. Baptist in Buffalo Jct. Va., Stevens Memorial in Newport News, Va., Beards Chapel and Poplar Grove Baptist in Clinton, NC., and his last service was at Traphill Baptist in Traphill, NC where he retired from the ministry in 2014. During his life, Bobby made many dear friends, his oldest being a fellow minister by the name of Ray Sharpe, from Canton, NC. Who was a loyal friend and minister to him. His mother-in-law, Dorothy Knight lived with him and Diane until her death in 2011 and was Bobby’s partner in crime. Bobby was the best girl dad, according to his daughters and the consummate romantic to Diane. Bobby was a cowboy, racecar driver, soldier, private investigator, police officer and pastor during his adventurous life. He never met a stranger and loved to sit beside Diane at night with a nutty butty, butter pecan ice cream or his beloved bottle of Coke with peanuts in it. He was an animal lover and took in every critter he could. He had a deep laugh and simple country way of life. He believed that his beloved “Duke” John Wayne knew the right way and often said, “When you stop fighting, you die.” He fought for his family, his friends and most importantly his God. Bobby passed peacefully on his beloved farm surrounded by his girls.