RIP Bobby Dews

Sad to hear. I remember I used to regularly watch him working with pitchers in the Phillies Bullpen at Citizen's Bank Park. And he more than once threw a ball to me because I was the one person wearing Braves gear. So I have a few balls that were thrown by the likes of Huddy and Smoltz.
 
He was the first manager of the AA Greenville Braves in their inaugural season in 1984. Leo Mazzone followed him. I went to every home game I could get to that year. It was cool to see those familiar faces in Atlanta later. RIP.
 
Here is full obit published by Albany paper:

Robert Walter (“Bobby”) Dews

Albany-Robert Walter (“Bobby”) Dews, 76, died on December 26, 2015, at Phoebe-Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga. Honoring Mr. Dews’ expressed wishes, a private service is being planned by the family.

Mr. Dews was born in Clinton, Iowa on March 23, 1939, but lived the majority of his life in his beloved Edison, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Robert Porter Dews and Margery Killingsworth Dews, and his mother Marian Hiers.

He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Glenda Bolin Dews; his daughter and son-in-law Dana Dews Gates and John Paul Gates of Richmond, Va.; his grandson and namesake Robert Dawson Gates; his sister Patricia MacLean of Trussville, Ala.; his stepsister Marcia Killingsworth of Edison, Ga.; stepbrothers Lawrence Killingsworth of Spokane, Wa. and Scott Killingsworth of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews. Additionally, Mr. Dews leaves behind numerous cousins who consider him more of an uncle or a brother than a cousin.

Mr. Dews graduated from Edison High School, and played baseball and basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He followed in the footsteps of his stepmother and other family members by obtaining his Associate’s degree from Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga., and he later graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from West Georgia College.

Mr. Dews’ athletic career speaks for itself. He was inducted into the Georgia Institute of Technology Hall of Fame and was a player, manager, scout and coach in professional baseball, most notably for the Atlanta Braves, for over 53 years. In addition to his love for The Game, he had a lifelong passion for fishing and quail hunting, and he was an accomplished author, having written several novels and books of short poetry and prose. He most recently served as the writer-in-residence for Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga. A deeply spiritual man, Mr. Dews was a member of First United Methodist Church of Edison, Ga.

Mr. Dews was a natural athlete, a masterful storyteller, a passionate family man, and a beloved friend to all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bobby Dews Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund for Calhoun County High School in Edison, Ga. Fund is to be established; please send donations for holding to the Bank of Edison, 476 Turner Street, Edison, Ga., 39846. In addition, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Edison, Ga., or the Albany Rescue Mission in Albany, Ga.

To share your thoughts with the Dews Family you may visit our website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Kimbrell-Stren Funeral Dircetors
 
Fully expect the Braves to wear a "52" or a "BD" patch next season.
 
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