Robert Lewis Maphis
June 17, 1928 - July 28, 2014

Robert (Bob) L. Maphis, Jr., passed away on Monday, July 28, 2014, at his home in Fort Lauderdale.
Born in Fort Myers on June 17, 1928, as the son of Reba Lillian and Robert Maphis, Sr., Mr. Maphis was a lifelong Floridian with a family heritage in Florida that dates back to the early 1830's. He spent his childhood days in southwest Florida, lived on a farm in Lee County and attended school in the town of Buckingham. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as part of the 88th Infantry Division in post-WWII Italy. After being honorably discharged, Mr. Maphis settled in Fort Lauderdale and was owner of Bob's Moving and Storage and AAA Moving and Storage in the '50's and '60's. For decades he was an owner/operator long-distance furniture mover, traveling regularly between Florida and California and visited all 48 of the contiguous United States. Following his days as an owner/operator he worked for a number of South Florida businesses up until his retirement in 2012.
Bob leaves his companion of 56 years, Viola Garren Maphis; his son, Tyrone Maphis of Fort Lauderdale; his son, Rob Maphis and his wife, Suzanne, of Windermere, and their three children, Brianna Ashleigh, Alexa Morgan and Ava Noelle; his daughter, Dorothy Alene Jack of Celebration and her two children Joshua Bruce and Katie Elizabeth, along with Katie's son Rowen Christopher; his granddaughter Natasha Linnett Damner and her husband, Barton, of Sausalito, CA, and their two children, Baxter Buckbee and Derby Hudson; his sister, Hilda Bryson and her husband H.L. of Mandarin; his brother, Joe Thompson and his wife Barbara of Kentucky ; and many other friends and loved ones.

Mr. Maphis was preceded in death by his mother, Reba Lillian; his father, Robert Maphis, Sr.; his daughter, Bruna Christina Cousineau; his sister, Geraldine Josephine Menendez; his sister, Marilyn Amelia Reynolds; his brother, Otis W. (Joe) Maphis; his sister, Marjorie Maphis Schetrompf; and his brother, Robert Woodrow Maphis.

A memorial service for close family and friends is being planned for September 1, 2014 at the South Florida National Cemetery at 6501 S. State Road 7, Lake Worth.

The family is grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff of the North Florida/South Georgia, Orlando and Miami facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and, in lieu of flowers, asks that donations be made in memoriam to VA medical centers and hospitals (http://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/).

Tributes