Robert Bethea was born on February 12, 1939 to the Late Adeline Bethea and the Late Will Carver in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina. Robert departed this earthly life to eternal rest on Sunday, February 14, 2021 in Union, New Jersey.

Robert grew up in the North Carolina School System, and graduated from the Oak Ridge High School in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, soon after he left the Carolinas and came to Newark, New Jersey where he met and married Georgia Wilkerson from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Robert worked for the Light Craft Company in Passaic, New Jersey for 15 years. He later became a bus driver and worked for Coach USA for over 30 years. Robert had a love for sports, he was a diehard New York Mets, Giants and Wrestling fan. Robert is predeceased by his brother, John A Bethea, his sisters, Ethel Pearl Morrison, Phyllis Brown, and Arlene Smith.

He leaves to Cherish his loving memories to his wife of 55 years, Georgia, from this union one son Robert Jr., his daughters, Shirley and Deborah, his sisters, Mary Lee McKoy of Raeford North Carolina, Ola Johnson (William) of St. Paul, North Carolina, and Rosetta Moore of Fayetteville, North Carolina, his brother, Willie Smith (Carolyn) of St. Paul, North Carolina, eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, six sisters-in law, of Charlotte, North Carolina and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.