Robert Hampton Bacoate

Robert Hampton Bacoate was born April 23, 1933 in Asheville, North Carolina. He departed this life on January 31, 2026. Robert was preceded in death by his mother Osie M. Bacoate, and his father Matthew Bacoate Sr. of Asheville, NC.

Robert’s family traveled frequently during his early years in school. Buddy, as his mother fondly nicknamed him, attended school in Asheville, North Carolina and graduated from Stephens Lee High School. He entered into the United States Air Force in 1951. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1966.

As a young husband and father Robert attended the then Asheville-Biltmore College. He graduated with Honors with a B.S. Degree in Sociology; while working full time as a civilian for the United States Air Force. He was one of the first Black students to graduate from the newly minted University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Robert entered the Air Force three years after its desegregation. He served during the Korean War and was stationed in Tachikawa, Japan; Chambley-Bussieres Air Base in France and spent time in Bitburg, Germany. He also served in numerous Air Force bases in the United States.

Robert, also known as Bob, began his professional career as an Air Weather Service Computer- Operator at the Federal Building, also known as the Grove Arcade. He  retired after twenty years as a Supervisor in 1988. His love of community service and criminal justice led him to his second career which was law enforcement. He served immediately under Lt. Willie Allen, and beside CPO Helen Smith on the Buncombe County Sheriff Department’s Crime Prevention Unit from 1990-1996. Bob really enjoyed mentoring and teaching crime prevention in the many communities across Buncombe County. Bob also had great respect for the late Sheriff Bobby Long and considered him a friend.

Bob was very Civic Minded. He loved his community and was always thinking of ways that he could be a part of making conditions better for Black people.

While at UNCA, Robert alongside a co-worker implemented a major research project on how Urban Renewal was affecting people. Their research was used by Model Cities and Buncombe County. They used the information as a guideline to better implement urban renewal processes in affected areas, such as East End better known as Southside. The project was published and distributed. It was called “A City Within A City”.

Bob was the President of the Committee for Progress from 1967-1975. The Committee for Progress consisted of ten black men. Their responsibility was to recommend other black males for important boards and committees that they had not served on before; such as the Civil Service Board- where Black police had to appear before being promoted up in rank.

The Socioeconomic Development Committee of the Chamber of Commerce focused on revitalizing the Asheville-Buncombe County Relations Council. This committee, along with the Committee for Progress, previously mentioned, was merged to form one committee. They actually named it “The Committee”. The focus of this joint committee was to develop a more effective Asheville-Buncombe Relations Council in 1969.

Brother Bob, as his Church Family would often call him; loved the Lord with his whole heart! He could be caught reading “ the Word” at any time day or night. He read and loved to converse about scripture! He was a disciple that would share the “good news” with anyone anywhere. He served in almost every capacity in the Church, but none closer to his heart than “teaching discipleship”.  He grew up in Brown Temple C.M.E. Church, where his mother O.M. Bacoate taught him about the goodness of the Lord, and how to be a “good Citizen”. Bob was a very intelligent man. He not only looked out for his church family - but the physical church as well. He was ready and able to read documents, talk to the man and have a plan. He loved his Pastor and conversed with him often over the years.

Robert served on and was President of many boards in the Church. From the usher board to Chairman of the Steward Board. From the Methodist Men to Discipleship Teacher. One of Robert’s legacy leaving accomplishments was leading the Building Committee in regaining the property on the corner of Phifer and Blanton by acquiring the funds to rebuild on the lot while worshipping in the Old Allen Center Building.

Brother Bob was a sports enthusiast! From his football playing days to his love of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Let us not leave off the San Antonio Spurs. He could talk stats and players all day long. He appreciated all types of sports. He loved to laugh and make jokes. He had a great personality and we feel he was a pretty “cool dude”. He loved collecting memorabilia- trains, cars, records, cameras - you name it. Not only did he have a deep appreciation for all types of music, Robert loved writing and expressed himself through notebooks filled with poetry, essays and letters. He greatly enjoyed and developed a skill set for photography. Bob loved animals and nature. He was a dog lover and raised many dogs in his lifetime. He loved to fish and enjoyed being near the lake.

Bob, as his late wife Grace called him, adored his family. He and Grace, his wife of 57 years before her passing, enjoyed many beautiful years together with their daughters, nephew, and their whole beautiful family! The family has expanded and Bob felt truly blessed and privileged to see his family grow. He endured some trials with his health, but his faith and zeal for life never wavered. God blessed him with a long life of 92 years. He will be missed but not forgotten.

We love you Daddy, Bobba, Uncle, Brother, Grand Bobba, Friend

Rest easy Daddy in the Lord's arms of mercy. We Love You.

We love each other and do not worry - we will “stick together”.

Robert is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years Grace Elizabeth Dickerson Bacoate. He is survived by his siblings, Matthew Bacoate, Jr (Asheville, NC) and Barbara Jean McMorris (Durham, NC); two loving daughters, Jacqueline C. Bacoate (Alysa) and Robin B. Wallace (Henderson) both of Asheville, NC; two granddaughters Grace Bianca Cha’misse Wallace Underwood (Cecyll), Mebane, NC and Aubrielle Simone Wallace, Charlotte, NC. Special nephews and nieces Patricia Valentine (Ken), Denise Barnes of Durham, NC., Matthew Bacoate, III, (Marcia) of Asheville, NC, Marian Milton of Durham, N.C., Michael Flack (Shonna) of York, PA, and Mark Flack (Silina) of Philadelphia, PA. First cousins Emma Kate Ambrose (Hank) of Herndon, Virginia, and Wade Hampton Witherspoon Jr. (Vangela) of Rock Hill, S.C.  His two great-great grandsons, Treyce Cameron Underwood and Hampton Rose Henderson Underwood, Mebane, NC. Robert has four great nephews, one great niece, four great-great nephews, and four godchildren. The Gilmore Family of Asheville, NC, Special Cousins and Family in North Carolina,  South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and New York.

A Funeral Service to honor the life of Robert will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Brown Temple CME Church (32 Phifer St.), at 12pm. He will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow the service at Violet Hill Cemetery. Viewing and visitation with the family will be held at Brown Temple CME Church on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 6pm – 8pm. The service will be live streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page.

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