Obituary: Robert P. “Bob” Aiken, Jr
Celebratin’ the Life of Hand Shakin’, Pie Makin’, and Picture Takin’ – Bob Aiken
If you lived in or around Snow Hill, NC, the odds are Bob Aiken took your picture; and if you were lucky, he might have also handed you a slice of pie. While many knew him as a photographer or baker, his family knew him as a man of deep and abiding commitment – to his faith, to his family, and to his community.
Robert P. “Bob” Aiken, Jr, was born on September 21, 1924, to Robert P. Aiken Sr. and Rosalie Edwards. He lived his entire life in Snow Hill and following high school attended NC State University and Kings Business College in Raleigh, NC. After college Bob returned to Snow Hill to work with his dad in Aiken’s Cash Supply Store. His early curiosity in photography turned into a career beginning upstairs of his father’s business. He continued his studies at the New York Institute of Photography and through the Professional Photographers Association in Wynona, Indiana. From film to digital he followed his passion over the decades capturing countless weddings, family portraits, newsworthy candid’s, and class pictures from Hatteras to Cherokee, North Carolina. Bob had an eye for capturing life’s best moments — most often with a twinkle in his own.
In 1946, Bob married the love of his life, Seroba Anderson. For 64 years, they built a home filled with love, laughter, and the scent of something delicious baking in the oven. Their kitchen was the heart of the home, a place where friends gathered, supper club feasts were shared, and the occasional dance broke out when the right song played. Bob believed that food was an act of love, and whether he was baking pies for a church fundraiser or dropping off a pound cake “just because,” he made sure those around him knew they were cared for.
A lifelong member of Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church, Bob was known for his unwavering faith. He was a Scoutmaster for Troop 74, helping shape the lives of young men. He served as president of the North Carolina Professional Photographers Association, chaired political campaigns, volunteered as a fireman, and was always looking for an opportunity to serve a neighbor.
Even at 100, Bob was still learning and discovering, taking pictures and texting on his smartphone, staying abreast of technology and social media, and still making pies. He lived with kindness, humor, an open mind, and an open heart. He embodied the love he wished for the world to have, never missing a chance to speak to a stranger, share a good story, or lending a helping hand.
Bob leaves behind a family marked by his character: his three children, Mary Rose Knight (Everette) of Raleigh, Robert P. Aiken, III of Greenville, and Seroba Murphy (William) of Raleigh; five grandchildren Owen (Chambliss), Mary Aiken (Hayes), and Harrison (Hannah) Barrow, Daniel and Joseph Murphy; and 3 great-grandchildren, Frances, Ned, and Charlotte; nieces, Susan Catlette, Dorothy Lamm, Romaine Lamm, Carol Lamm; and nephews, Warren Rogers (Debbie) and James Waddell; and a devoted caregiver over the past year who became a dear friend, Linda Suggs. He also leaves behind a community that will forever remember his laughter, his generosity, and the countless memories he captured through his lens.
A worship service of thanksgiving to God for Bob’s incredible life will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday March 29th, at Calvary Memorial UMC, with burial at the Snow Hill Cemetery following. Friends and family are invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall from 12:30-1:45 to share memories, swap stories, and take a picture or two. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Calvary Memorial UMC, PO Box 445, Snow Hill, NC 28580, or simply pay tribute to Bob by taking a photo of a loved one and making sure they know how much they mean to you.
Condolences to the family may also be shared at www.taylor-tyson.com
