A personal note: Bob Bostick, a dedicated Flyer reader and one of my oldest friends, whose conversation and encouragement has buoyed me significantly over the years, died unexpectedly last week. I happened to be in the hospital for check-ups myself and could not respond right away. I want to do so now, by passing on the following words from another longtime friend, Paula Casey:
Robert L. Bostick Jr. (1939-2022)
Storyteller. Raconteur. Musician. U.S. Navy veteran. World traveler. Great cook. Pragmatist. Avid reader.
These are some of the aspects of the life of Robert Lee “Bobby” Bostick, who died June 24, 2022, at the age of 82. Born in Memphis on August 28, 1939, to Robert L. Bostick Sr., and Abby Middlebrooks Bostick, he enjoyed his childhood and graduated from Central High School where he made lifelong friends. He attended the University of Mexico, Vanderbilt University, and eventually graduated from Ole Miss.
During his naval career, he served on the aircraft carrier Kearsarge with John McCain. Bobby shared that McCain was just one of the guys — until at a port when his father’s admiral limo would pick him up.
Bobby was one of the earliest teenage rock and roll guitar players in the ’50s, even playing one night with Elvis when Scotty Moore was late. He said that was good for “girls” for months. Bobby injured a finger and had trouble making an “F” chord, so he took up the five-string banjo playing blues and rock.
He met Jocelyn Dan (later Wurzburg ) at Central High School and they would dance at the rainy-day sock hops, although they never dated because of religious differences. They re-met in 1982, after their divorces, and began a relationship that lasted nearly 40 years.
They traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, and enjoyed frequent excursions to Mexico. Their last adventure was to San Sebastian, Spain, which has more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world. He was the definition of a “foodie.”
Traveling, they often took their banjos with them to make friends; Bobby taught Jocie how to play it so if she played rhythm he could play lead. He had a wonderful time performing with the Steamboat Strummers and had a blues band with the late Lee Baker. He also ran the Strand Theater in Millington where he played with the country music show for decades.
The pragmatist Bostick was once invited to a meeting of Mensa, a group of highly intelligent individuals, but decided if one joined the organization and purchased the attending paraphernalia, they didn’t show very good judgment.
He attended Consultation on Conscience conferences in Washington, D.C., where he once met and was hugged by the 14th Dalai Lama, in whom he held high regard.
Bobby was pre-deceased by his parents. He is survived by cousins in Georgia and his (in the words of Dolly Parton) dear companion.
Bobby, a staunch feminist, would be pleased with a contribution to Planned Parenthood or the music education program for talented kids, the Memphis Jazz Workshop, P.O. Box 11461, Memphis, TN 38111.
