Robert E. "Bob" Chamness, 80, August 18, 1945 - September 18, 2025

Time stopped for us on September 18, 2025 at 4:15PM. We lost a husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many.  Our community and this world lost one of the great ones.

Bob passed peacefully, and without pain, at the Marion VA Medical Center's CLC facility. Bob was a devoted husband to the love of his life, and best friend, Lynn Adams Chamness. They spent 57 years making memories, and falling more in love every day.

He is survived by his beautiful wife Lynn of Johnston City. Also surviving are son Mike and wife Terra of Johnston City, son Justin and partner Melanie Moss of Maryville, IL, daughter Lori Linton and husband James of Johnston City.

Bob was blessed with twelve grandchildren: Tiara Turner(Kurt), Cheylin Chamness(Kaitlyn Garrett), Laci Linton, Samantha Files(Justin Grant), Shelbi Beeding(Dallas), Alyssa Scroggins(Jake), Blake Moss, Audri Linton(Michael Doebber), Brett Moss, Jack Chamness(Breanna Parker), Michael Wiese, Joshua Wiese...then along came the great-grandchildren: Tinslee and Kosten Turner, Carter and Kai Keffer, Caralynn, Libby, and Henry Grant, Vera and Nora Beeding, Kahner Scroggins (with brother Kieran on the way!) and Ryker James Chamness.

Bob is also survived by sister-in-law Loretta Rentfro and brother-in-law and friend Gene Rentfro, brother-in-law Dave Adams, brother-in-law and best friend of 67 years John Adams(Patty Kendrick) and sister-in-law Charlene Adams.  He was blessed with many nieces, nephews, good friends of many years to Bob and the whole family-Bill Mueller and Kim and Trish Conley.

He was preceded in death by his mother Martha Kathleen Leonard and step-father Dewey, his father Loren Monroe Chamness, the sweetest mother-in-law ever Audrey Vera Adams, father-in-law Granville Adams and wife Leona, brother James Lloyd Chamness, sister Wanda Kathleen Dalton and brother-in-law and friend Billie Dee Dalton, brother-in-law's James and Dennis "Dink" Adams, sister-in- laws Christine, Mary and Priscilla Adams, nephews Jimmy and John Adams Jr.

Bob was a United States Navy veteran serving from '63-'67, first serving as a machinist mate aboard the USS Midway, then assigned to security details in DaNang, Vietnam. He came home from Vietnam, and married his sweetheart a year later on May 3, 1968, then began working in several UMWA District 12 coal mines over the years. The most impactful and longest tenure was at Old Ben 25, east of West Frankfort. Bob worked hard at 25, and made many lifelong friends. The last time he came to the top was at Old Ben 20 in Thacker, West Virginia. He was a proud union miner.

Bob loved his beagles and loved to hunt over them. It did not matter friend or foe, if your dogs could circle rabbits, he'd hunt with you. He raised and dealt his beloved hounds for over 50 years under his Triple 'C' Kennel. He loved to listen to his hounds run a rabbit. Bob was an avid fisherman also. It did not matter to him if he was using a duct taped cane pole, or a high dollar rod and reel, as long as he caught a big enough mess to fry up on Sunday, he was happy. He loved sitting on a bank with Lynn filling their bucket, or not.

He manned the hot corner, and hit a good number of dingers, for a number of area slow pitch softball teams. He loved competing, whether on the diamond, or on the court. He played independent basketball until he was 40. He coached little league for a number of years, and became an umpire to stay close to the game, which he did into his late 60's. He loved sports at all levels, but much more so at the local level. His greatest love was watching his kids play and cheer. It was unheard of for him to miss a game they were involved in. He loved that they competed, and proud it was where he had done so himself. Bob was a Johnston City Indian, from beginning to end.

Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, September 27, 2025, in the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Pastor Larry Stevens officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to one of the three: Marion VA Community Living Center, JC Toto Town Dog Park or JC Manna Mission.