Robert L. “Bob” Phelps, 70, Live Oak, Fl passed away on Monday, September 2, 2013 after a short illness.

The Erie, PA native was in the U.S. Air Force and moved to Live Oak in 2002 from Jacksonville, FL. He retired from The Florida Times Union in Jacksonville after 20 plus years. After retirement he went back to school and received his L.P.N license.

He was also a member of Westwood Baptist Church in Live Oak. Mr. Phelps is survived by his wife of 22 years: Linda Phelps, Live Oak, FL; mother: Corabelle Phelps, Louisville, KY; three daughters: Jennifer O’Neal, Albany, NY, Shelle (Wayne) Byrne, Charlotte, NC, Jenifer Phelps, Live Oak, FL; one step-daughter: Kim (Andy) Baggett, St. George, GA; one son: Gordon (Cathy) Phelps, Cranford, NJ; one step-son: Kevin (Ann) Stevenson, Jacksonville, FL; one sister: Mary Anne Kitchens, Dayton, OH; one brother: Dr. Joseph Phelps, Louisville, KY; twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm Saturday, September 7th at Westwood Baptist Church with Rev. Jonathan Rodriguez and Rev. Jim McCoy officiating. In lieu of flowers family ask donations be made to Westwood Baptist Church/People for Haiti, 920 11th Street SW Live Oak, FL 32064. Please sign guest book at danielsfuneralhome.com.

From a 2005 email from Robert

A 35-year retired Journalist, I now work part-time in public relations at a music park and campground in Live Oak, Fla. Also work part-time for the park's Canoe Outpost, hauling people to scenic put-in spots on the Suwannee, Withlacochee and Alapaha Rivers. After my retirement, my wife and I traveled all over the U.S. in a 5th wheel trailer and truck, doing volunteer work for a Christian ministry at camps and conference centers. We are still members of that organization but have settled in Live Oak, Fla., close to two of our collective five children and three of our collective eight grandchildren.

I retired from the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville and currently am attending a nursing program so that after a couple of years of clinical experience my wife, Linda Scott Phelps, an RN, and I can do medical missionary work. I have three children, my wife has two children and between us, we have 8 grandchildren with another on the way.

I joined the Air Force right after graduation from HS and got into Journalism via writing for base newspapers and the Pacific Stars and Stripes in Japan. Attended night college courses in journalism and continued college after I got out of the service and went to work for daily newspapers. I've covered everything from hostage crises to the World Series (Cincinnati Reds' Big Red Machine of the 1970s). Spent 23 years in Jacksonville where I retired as a feature writer and columnist.

We're living in the country about 80 miles west of Jacksonville where we have an acre fenced in for our two dogs and our grandchildren to run on. I graduate from a year-long program at a local school to become an LPN on July 15