Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 21, 2022

Robert Mason Lloyd, 83, died Friday, October 21, 2022, in the Harris Hospice Unit at Novant Presbyterian Hospital.

Robert was born February 24, 1939, in Charlotte, NC, the youngest of five children of Gaither Lloyd and Eunice Stowe Lloyd. He grew up in Charlotte and Hickory. At a young age, Bobby left home to make a better life for himself. His first home on his own was a telephone booth in the old Post Office building in Charlotte. He stayed there for a week before finding a job at Electric Ice and Fuel Company and a room at the YMCA. From there, he found work at Queen City Mattress & Upholstering on South Blvd. Bobby stayed there a few years, learning the upholstery trade, then opened his own shop, Cut-Rate Upholstery, in 1961. He spent the next sixty years upholstering furniture, building sofas and chairs for mobile homes, and venturing into office chair production. While perfecting his own upholstery techniques, Bobby used his skills and talents to “pay it forward”, mentoring and training at least a dozen other men to learn the upholstery trade and make their own living. Bobby had an ear for music and played guitar and bass. He loved country music and was a sponsor for a local radio station in the early 1960’s. Whenever a country act came to town, the radio station always gave him tickets and he got to meet and befriend the singers.

Bobby married and had a daughter, Carol Ann, who predeceased him in 2012. In 1971, he married the love of his life, Ruth Durham Stevens. When Bobby found that Ruth also loved country music, they frequently traveled to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There Bobby introduced Ruth to many of the country stars he had sponsored, and they had great memories of those trips. They also toured Canada, Clearwater, FL, Nashville, TN, Outer Banks, NC, and other fun places, many times with Ruth’s aunt and uncle. Bobby and Ruth always ate dinner out, and they had their regular “dinner group” at their favorite Tryon House, with Randy, Richard, Linda, Tom, April, Mark, Joe, and many others. Bobby loved to be with people; he often quoted his grandfather Frank that “a stranger was just a friend you haven’t met yet”. He enjoyed telling stories of his youth and family, liked to tease, and had a good time keeping Ruth on her toes. She once baked a peach cobbler for him, only to have him tell her he didn’t like peaches at all. Needless to say, she never baked another one!

Bobby and Ruth were married almost 50 years, until Ruth’s death in 2020. Bobby tried to find purpose, but his heart was broken. His health declined and he endured several hospital stays at the end.

In addition to his daughter Carol and wife Ruth, he was also predeceased by his parents, brothers J.D. and Don, and sisters Connie Anderson and Wilma Bradshaw. Bobby is survived by his daughter, Dena Whitaker and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family. The family would like to thank all the care teams at Novant Presbyterian, Harris Hospice, and Bayada Home Health for their caring and professional treatment during Bobby’s illness.

Visitation will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at Assurance United Methodist Church, 9700 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, Huntersville NC, with service immediately following at 3:00 PM. Pastor Josh Kurtz will officiate. Private interment will be at Forest Lawn West.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Assurance UMC. The family would like to extend special thanks to Brian, Randy, LeeAnn, and Debbie for their constant hands-on devotion and support.

If you are unable to attend the service, it is being livestreamed, just click on either link below when it goes live at 3:00 PM, November 2, 2022.  

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pg/assuranceumc/posts/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/c/AssuranceUMC/featured

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.