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Arkansas Funeral Home Notices and Obituaries, Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Robert Thomson Bass
Robert ?Bob? Thomson Bass, age 87, passed away on June 28, 2026. Born in Roanoke, VA, he was the son of George Quincy Bass and Virginia Williamson Price. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, lifelong learner, engineer, veteran, storyteller, collector, and friend to many.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Carol Jean (Schafer) Bass; his daughters, Jacqueline Hyneman, Laura Hobson, Deirdre Kraemer (John), Lisa Dangel, and Deborah Negron (Alberto); his ?adopted? son J.D. Walker (Louann); his grandchildren Kyle Hyneman (Divya), Zack Hyneman (Cassandra), Madison Doolittle, Tiffany Eppelheimer (Reed), Madeline Kraemer, Lucy Kraemer, Christopher Dangel, Ryan Dangel, Scott Dangel, and Emily Negron; 3 great grandchildren Landon Hutcheson, Rhen and Leif Eppelheimer; his brother George Bass (Lorna), sister-in-law Shirlee Marvin; cousins Jane Gwinn and Nancy Alton; numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the coming months in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
An Army brat, Bob attended Gordon Military High School in Barnesville, Georgia, and went on to spend two years at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. He then enlisted with the United States Army, serving 3 years as a gunsmith from 1960 to 1963, mostly posted in Schwabisch Gmund, Germany. Upon leaving the Army out of Fort Bliss, TX, he returned to Florida where he initially worked for organizations including the Florida Road Department, the Daytona Speedway, and later as a bank teller at the Barnett Bank in DeLand, FL. He later went on to build a distinguished career as an electrical, mechanical, and safety engineer, working with organizations that included NASA (Cape Canaveral, FL), General Electric (San Jose, CA), Astronautics (Milwaukee, WI), Martin Marietta (Orlando, FL), and Coleman Research (Orlando, FL). True to his engineer?s mind, Bob lived by the philosophy of working smarter, not harder, finding thoughtful, practical solutions in his career, his hobbies, and everyday life.
While working full time, Bob earned his bachelor?s degree at Milwaukee School of Engineering and later his MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. He attended classes at night and studied after long workdays, faithfully pressing forward toward his degree. Each evening his studies came to a halt at 9 p.m. when the family cat would knock his paperwork off the desk, letting him know it was time to wrap up the books and take the nightly ice cream break. It became one of those small, beloved rituals that reflected both Bob?s discipline and the warmth of home life around him. He remained an avid reader and lifelong learner, always curious and always eager to share what he knew.
Throughout his life, Bob gave generously of his time and talents. A 32nd Degree Mason, he belonged to the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in St. Cloud, FL, and maintained his membership with the Bahia Shriners in Orlando, Florida, serving as Commander of the Legion of Honor of the Bahia Shrine in 1998. He also supported Make-A-Wish Foundation and Give Kids the World, serving ice cream to critically ill children and their families. As part of the Bahia Shrine Sojourners, he provided historical education in costume for school programs. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution in Arkansas, volunteered through Vet to Vet with Arkansas Hospice, and brought joy to countless people as ?Stringbean? the Clown with the Hot Springs Village Shrine Club.
Bob loved history, machinery, moto??rcycles, and people. He was a member of the Antique Gun Club in Conway, Arkansas, where he enjoyed presenting ?show and tell? from his vast collection of historic guns. He also belonged to the Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle Club, embracing the friendships and adventures that came with the open road.
Those who knew Bob will remember his remarkable gift for conversation. In the spirit of Will Rogers, Bob truly never met a stranger. His mother once joked that he had been vaccinated with a phonograph needle, and Bob likened himself to a ?Chatty Cathy? doll with a pull string. He could talk with anyone about anything, often surprising tour guides and docents with little-known facts during his travels. He knew a little about a lot, and a lot about many things.
Bob was especially proud of Carol, whom he lovingly credited with introducing him to FUN. She often joked that she was his ?novelty act.? With Carol by his side, Bob grew from a strait-laced rule follower into someone willing to try new experiences, from jet skis and motorcycles to RV adventures together in Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and Texas, joining new organizations and forging deep friendships along the way. Together, they opened the door to enriching adventures and lifelong relationships.
The family extends special thanks to the teams at Right at Home and at Life Touch Health (Arkansas Hospice) for the compassionate care they provided throughout Bob?s final days.
A safety engineer at heart, Bob was always ready with a briefing, a story, or a bit of wisdom. His joy was in letting others shine, and his legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the knowledge he shared, the laughter he sparked, and the love he gave so freely.
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Bassett Family Association Database
- 2026