Honoring Robert Hamel Bollum
William Wallace said, “Every man dies. But not every man truly lives”
Today we are here to honor a man who truly lived.
Robert Hamel Bollum, Born January 1, 1919, went home to be with his Lord February 4th, 2019. He was 100 years old.
Over the course of those 100 years, he was also known as Bobbie, Bob, Dad, Grandpa and finally, Grandpa Great.
He will be remembered for being a wonderful son. A war hero and dedicated servant to his country.
A devoted husband to a woman who clearly believed he hung the moon and the sun just for her.
A father who worked hard to provide everything his sons needed and much of what they wanted.
A father-in-law who went out of his way to embrace Jennifer and me. Who not only loved us but genuinely saw us as much his own as he did his own sons. Arguably, he liked us better too.
A grandfather to Kristen, Chris, Brian, Courtney, Kelsey, and Trevor.
One who contributed to their lives in ways they probably never even knew about. One who showed them the world along with their grandmother who made traveling together as one big family --a very high priority.
That ultimately extended to a third generation. Eight beautiful Great Grandchildren. Jordan, Taylor, Morgan, Makenzie, Livia, Maddox, Kaden and Kolton.
Most people don’t ever know their great-grandparents -much less share so many vacations and holidays with them.
Livia is the one who gave them a name so endearing that it actually gave Bob and Marge a special identity in our family. “Grandma and Grandpa Great”.
Grandma and Grandpa great took us all on some incredible adventures.
We owe it to them that WE all spent so much time together over the years.
It was Bob and Marge who pulled us out of our busy lives - and gave us a week far away from all the things that make us forget we belong together. This is our family. Margie said it over and over again – nothing is as important as family.
Had it not been for them it’s unlikely we’d have so many shared memories to reflect on today. Certainly, we all love one another. But this post-millennial world is much better at pulling families apart than it is at holding them together. Grandma and Grandpa Great held us together.
I know we will all forever treasure the time they spent with us – but also the time they gave us to spend with one another.
And now they’re both gone. And naturally, we’re all sad.
Who could imagine 100 years wouldn’t be enough? But it wasn’t. It never is. The good news is that the “end of life as we know it” isn’t really the end of life.
Today as we celebrate Bob’s life here on earth, he is celebrating his eternity in heaven with all those who have gone before him. His parents, his best friends who died long ago… and Margie – the absolute love of his life.
The Bible teaches us that to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. That’s hard to imagine for anyone ---and not everyone believes it.
I do. Bob did.
He wasn’t a religious man, but he believed.
The day before Bob passed away Jennifer and I sat at his bedside. It was clear the end was coming and we were desperate to know Bob was at peace with what was happening. Jennifer held his hands and wept over him. She asked him if he believed in God and heaven. She asked him if he believed he would see Margie again. Relief flooded through us both when he nodded yes.
In the end, it isn’t about religion. It’s about faith.
Bob was an intelligent man, but he didn’t quite know what to make of the Bible or religion. Maybe you don’t either. That’s okay. Faith doesn’t require scholarship. It requires honesty and sincerity. Doubt doesn’t disqualify us. Not even getting it wrong does. God knows how hard it is to see through the clutter, confusion and misdirection of this world.
The Bible says:
“Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror poorly lit; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Bob now sees all the things we still can only wonder about. He has seen God face to face. That’s pretty awesome.
Bob and Marge are gone but they left behind their greatest gift to the world. Their sons, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren.
The left behind a wonderful legacy for all of us.
Bob and Marge are together again. In perfect health. In perfect unity with one another and with God. A fitting reward for a life well lived.