It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Bobby Gene McDaniel, 91, of Concord, North Carolina on Thursday, January 13, 2022.
Bobby had most recently made his home at Transitional Health Services of Kannapolis due to declining health.
A private family service to celebrate Bobby’s life will be held on January 19, 2022, at Wilkinson Funeral Home.
Bobby was born May 27, 1930, in Cabarrus County and was the son of the late Coy F. McDaniel, Sr. and Ruth Bailey McDaniel. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Coy F. McDaniel, Jr., sisters Betty McDaniel Stewart and Carolyn Sue McDaniel, and by spouses Eyvonne McDaniel and Betty Sue Potts Stiller McDaniel and step-daughter Tracey Stiller Helms and husband Gary Helms.
Bobby attended Cabarrus County Schools and as a high school student he worked at the Cabarrus Creamery and The Cabarrus Theater. He later attended Rowan Technical Community College. He worked at Sundrop Bottling Company as a Service Manager for 20 years. After leaving Sundrop, Bobby worked at Cabarrus Nursing Center and Concord Nursing Center as Environmental Control Director and Supervisor of Maintenance and Housekeeping.
In1983, Bobby and wife Sue McDaniel bought a small motel in Black Mountain, NC. They enjoyed owning and operating The Apple Blossom Motel, for ten years until their retirement to Cosby, Tennessee. During retirement, they owned and operated an Antique Store, The Briar Patch. He returned to North Carolina in 2001 and lived in Kannapolis and Concord.
Bobby had a strong belief in community service. Beginning in 1958, Bobby was a member of the Cabarrus County Rescue Squad. He served on the Board of Directors, and served in various volunteer positions throughout his 20 plus years of service, including Captain, Chief and Vice Commander. He was also certified as an EMT, First Aid and CPR Instructor, Examiner and Competition Judge. Additionally he was a Boy Scout of America Leader for many years and a member of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association.
He loved flying and flew his first solo flight in a C150 in 1971. His hobbies included traveling, woodworking and antiques.
Bobby enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He never met a stranger and was well known for his story telling and knowledge of local history.
Those left to cherish Bobby’s memory are his brother, Jerry S. McDaniel of Durham, NC, daughter Bobbie Lynn D’Hilly and husband Ron of Beverly Hills, Florida, special friend
Barbara Hartsell and family of Kannapolis, NC and step-children Victor Stiller and wife, Sharon of Lexington, NC, Chrystal Stiller and husband David Troutman of Concord, NC, Shawn Stiller Ritenour and husband Tim of Mount Pleasant, NC, and grandchildren Shannon Stiller Wilmot (who was raised by Bobby and Sue) and wife Brittany, Derek Stiller, Ryan and wife Megan Stiller, Ashley Yount, Luke Ritenour, Ben Ritenour, Elijah Stiller Troutman, and 10 great grandchildren, as well as numerous other family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Bobby can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Western North Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.
The family would like to thank the staff at Transitional Health Services of Kannapolis for caring for Bobby, with special thanks to the staff on the 300 Hall and to Nurse Practitioner, Angela Peterkin.