Parsons man, Army veteran Bobby Wedgworth dies at 74

Bobby Graves Wedgworth, a Parsons man and Army veteran known to many as Bob, died May 16 at age 74, leaving behind a family network that will gather in Parsons next month to honor a life rooted in Decatur County.

Wedgworth was born July 10, 1951, in Alamo and was the son of the late Ray, Pat, Wedgworth and Anna Willis Foust. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Wedgworth; his sons Bobby Wedgworth of Hendersonville, Billy Wedgworth of Lexington, and Eric Wedgworth of Parsons; and three granddaughters, Emma, Anna and Juliana Wedgworth. The obituary also names siblings Billy Wedgworth, Kim Wedgworth and Glorian Reasons, along with extended relatives whose ties reach across Parsons and nearby communities.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oakdale Funeral Home in Parsons, followed by a celebration of life at 1:00 p.m. at the same location. The service gives friends, neighbors and relatives a set time to come together in a county where funeral gatherings often serve as some of the most visible moments of public mourning and support.

Wedgworth’s military service is part of the reason the family is asking that memorial donations be directed to West Tennessee Healthcare Hospice or to local veteran programs. He served in the United States Army and the Tennessee Army National Guard, a detail that underscores the connection between his personal history and the community institutions now helping carry his memory forward.

The family also expressed gratitude for hospice care, saying, “The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice for their care, compassion, and support during this difficult time.” That note reflects the role hospice plays for families facing a long illness, especially in rural communities where end-of-life care often depends on a small network of providers and relatives.

Wedgworth’s obituary now sits among Decatur County’s recent loss notices for May, placing his death within the steady run of names that mark the county’s public record of grief. For Parsons, the June gathering at Oakdale Funeral Home will not only mark the passing of a veteran and father, but also the place he held in a broad local family that will keep his name present long after the service ends.