Robert (Bob) William Mays, age 84 of Chatsworth, GA, Sheldon, VT, and Clifton Springs, NY passed away on November 6th at Hamilton Medical Center after a short illness. He was born in Penn Yan, NY at Soldiers and Sailors Hospital on January 20, 1937.

He attended Clifton Springs High School and joined the Navy upon graduation at 17. Mr. Mays rose through the ranks from Seaman recruit to Ltjg as a Mustang during his 20 years of service. Some of his assigned duty ships were the USS Gearing, the USS William R Rush, and the USS Intrepid.

Mr. Mays was a former Deacon of Canandaigua Baptist Church, North Road Canandaigua, NY and Franklin United Church of Franklin, VT. He attended Holly Creek Baptist Church in Chatsworth, GA and was a member of Tony Hampton's Sunday School class with many dear friends.

Mr. Mays was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life for 63 years, Betty Farnsworth Mays, his parents, Rexford William Mays and Beulah Agnes Truax Mays, brothers Terrence Keith Mays, and Donald Vance Mays and his great granddaughter, Imogene Mays Dashnow.

He is survived by his sister Lynda Mays Swartele (Gary) of Clifton Springs, NY, daughters Shawn E. Mays (Charles Varnum) of Plains, GA, and Heather M. Wilson (David) of Newark, NY, sons Rodney W. Mays (Daphne) of Sutton, AK and Kevin F. Mays (Lori) of Georgia, VT and his former daughter in law, Vaughn Mays of Sheldon, VT.

He is also survived by his 12 grandchildren, Lindsay Bearden, Cameron Udick, Mallory Udick, Shannon Wilson, Megan Wilson, Andrei Mays, Oksana Yoder, Sergei Mays, Kelsey Boyle, Breeanna Miller, Jena Mays and Branden Mays.

Mr. Mays was the great grandfather of 19, Lily and Link Bearden, Bryce and Mya Lawson, Tamsyn Udick, Ella Wilson, Mara Coleman, Shyere and Melaniyah Rose Howard, Braxton Wilder, Hans and Laurel Yoder, Sosie and Ansa Boyle, Maddie, Marrcus and Emmaline Betts Miller, Lucy and Travis Dashnow, Jr.

He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Florence Mays and many dear nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. from the chapel of Peeples Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Cochran officiating and special remarks from Shawn Mays, Rodney Mays, and Tony Hampton.

Peeples Funeral Home & Crematory of Chatsworth is entrusted with the arrangements for Robert (Bob) William Mays.