John Boyd “Bob” Best, Jr., a resident of Victoria, Texas, entered into eternal rest, Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 5:00 P.M., at his residence surrounded by his loving family at the age of 87 years.

Bob was born, September 23, 1925 in Ranger, Texas, the son of John Boyd Best, Sr., and Nannie Louise Kelly Best. He graduated high school and then went on to proudly serve his country in the United States Army; having fought in World War II. After serving in the Army, Bob began his career as an accountant for Exxon, from which he later
retired. On July 10, 1982, Bob married Jeanne Jimerson in Kenedy, Texas. Bob was a former resident of Portland, Texas for many years, later having moved to Choate and settling in Victoria the past 6 years. Mr. Best was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Portland, Texas.

Mr. Best is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Billie Mills Best; his son, Don O. Harvey, III; his sisters Evelyn Wolf and husband Gordon, Elizabeth Kerr and husband Bill and Lois West and husband James and his 2 nephews, Bobby and Jim Kerr. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Jeanne Best of Victoria; his
daughters, Carol Calvert and husband Jim of Austin, Maggie Malek and husband Rick of Robstown and Linda Woods of Kenedy and his son, John Harvey and wife Janice of Lansing, Michigan.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kelley Hoelscher and husband Daniel, Amy Malek and fiancé, Lucas Thomas, Julie Mumfrey and husband Doug, George Grimes and wife Sara, Heather Guerra and husband Mario, Brian Harvey and wife Ashley and Zachary, Jacob and Sydney Harvey and his great-grandchildren, Evan Hoelscher, Nate and Sam Guerra, Miles and Luke Mumfrey, Jack Grimes, and Isabelle, Dylan, Natalie and Logan Harvey and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 26, 2013 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral services will be held, Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 10:00 A.M., in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Lyman Mereness of Crown Hospice officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Serving as pall bearers will be Bob’s grandchildren, Kelly Hoelscher, Amy Malek, Julie Mumfrey, George Grimes, Heather Guerra, Zachary Harvey, Jacob Harvey and Sydney Harvey.

A special thanks to Crown Hospice of Victoria and Bob’s caregivers, Karen Easley, Linda Barnes, Fannie Curtis, Berta Ramos and Leslie Luna.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Winters Public Library; 120 N Main Street, Winters, Texas 79567 or Crown Hospice; 1101 Salem Road, Victoria, Texas 77904.