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May 2, 1925 – July 19, 2024

Robert B. Haltom passed away July 19, 2024, at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, MS, with his son, Tom, at his bedside. Bob was born on May 2, 1925, the fifth son born to Marvin Z. Haltom, Sr. and Lucy Belle Carothers Haltom in Batesville, MS. After an active childhood during the Great Depression, he graduated from Batesville High School.

At age seventeen he enlisted in the Navy in the midst of World War II and joined his three surviving older brothers in the military. Following officer training at Mississippi College and Harvard University, he was commissioned as a Naval ensign and assigned to the USS Tamalpais, which sailed to Japan to be part of the initial occupying forces after the Japanese surrender. He was honorably discharged from the Navy, then returned home and enrolled at Ole Miss. He initially majored in history but ultimately received a degree in pharmacy. He was a baritone singer in the Ole Miss Glee Club and a member of Delta Psi Fraternity.

While at Ole Miss, Bob met the love of his life, Eleanor Glenn Lamb of Eupora. Bob and Glenn were married in 1950. Although his father owned Haltom Drugs on the square in Batesville, Bob initially worked as a pharmacist at Walgreens in Memphis, followed about a year later by a position in a Tupelo drugstore. After only a short time as a pharmacist there, he made a dramatic career change, and, upon the advice of his father-in-law, W.H. Lamb bought a small lumber mill in Crosby, MS. Mr. Lamb owned a large lumber mill in McComb and served as Bob’s mentor for many years. After a year in Crosby, he had the opportunity to purchase a larger mill in Roxie, MS.

Bob and Glenn built a home near the Roxie mill and while living there grew their household, adding three children between 1952 and 1956, Laura, Jim, and Tom. Bob eventually moved his family to nearby Natchez while continuing to operate his business in Roxie. In the mid-1960s, Bob and Glenn constructed a home on the site of the antebellum home Goat Castle in the Glenwood subdivision using all Southern yellow pine lumber produced at his mill.

In the late 1960s, Bob sold his mill, and after taking Glenn on a European tour, returned to Natchez and continued to buy and sell timberland. He eventually earned his real estate license and operated Bob Haltom and Company for many years, specializing in the appraisal and sale of historic antebellum homes in Natchez and across the South.

While living in Natchez, Bob was active in Jefferson Street Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and taught Sunday School for many years. He loved music of all types and actively supported the Natchez Opera Festival. Bob was a member of several clubs in town but most enjoyed “The Lunch Bunch”, an informal group of men of all ages who met weekly for philosophical/political/religious discussions. The only requirement for the Lunch Bunch was to have been kicked out of an organized club. A regular commentator to the local newspapers, he boldly stated his opinions and once announced for public office, only to cause a stir, and ultimately withdraw from the race.

Bob finally retired from the real estate business in his early 80s after developing macular degeneration, which rendered him legally blind. After developing this illness, Bob and Glenn spent a year raising a Labrador retriever puppy to serve as a guide dog for the blind. Although this dog, Maggie, ultimately did not qualify for guide dog service, she became a beloved longtime companion for them.

In 2008, Bob and Glenn retired to the Orchard in Ridgeland, MS. At the Orchard, Bob was active in the weekly church services and periodically sang solos for the congregation. He was trained by the Red Cross in exercise for arthritics and until only six months before his death taught exercise classes three days per week at the Orchard. Each class was different, with accompanying music and songs provided by Bob.

While at the Orchard, Bob lost Glenn to death after 63 years of marriage. Due to failing health, Bob moved to St. Catherine’s Village in May 2024 for nursing home care. Bob is interred next to Glenn in the Eupora Cemetery.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Laura Haltom St. Clair (Doug) of New Orleans, LA; sons, Dr. Jim Haltom (Susan) of Ridgeland, MS, and Dr. Tom Haltom (Kay) of Marietta, GA; six grandchildren, Chase St. Clair, David (Laura), John (Katey) and Scott (Shannon) Haltom and Sydney Haltom (Leslie) and Marshall Haltom, and five great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Carothers and Josephine, and Sumner and Sullivan Haltom.

The family would like to recognize Barbara Roark and Nancy Brand from the Orchard for their special friendship and care. The family would also like to thank all of the caregivers at the Orchard, the Arbor, and at St. Catherine’s Village. The family is especially grateful for the care given by Richie Johns of Arden Hospice during Bob’s last few weeks of life. Contributions in Bob’s memory can be sent to Living Waters at livingwatersfortheworld.org.