Robert Henry Hare

Robert Henry Hare, age 81, of Orlando, Florida passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at his home after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December of 2022. Robert was born on March 2, 1942, in Cambridge, OH, the oldest son to his late parents, Robert Matthew and Jane Carolyn (Burris) Hare. Although his father nicknamed him "Buddy" as a boy, a name still used by many in his family, he was known primarily as Bob by the time he was in the 7th grade.

As a young boy, Bob's best friend was his cousin, Martha Jane (Burris) Smith. When Martha started school at the small, two-room schoolhouse he'd be attending the following year, Bob, not one to be left behind, refused to leave Martha at the school on her first day. Thus, Bob's school career began alongside his best friend, and he graduated as the youngest in his class from Old Washington High School in 1959. During his time at Washington, Bob served as class president for the four years he attended the high school. He was also passionate about the school's basketball team, assisting the varsity team in getting to the regional finals his senior year. This was a big accomplishment for the small country school with a graduating class of only 34 people!

In fall of 1959, Bob went on to attend The Ohio State University. He remained at the school for two and a half years before returning home to Cambridge to focus on work. Bob began working for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in manufacturing of government contracts in 1962. He then transitioned to the Newark Air Force Base as a civilian employee working on missile guidance systems. In 1964 Bob joined the Army Reserves, training to serve as a military policeman, which he did for the next six years. It was during this time in 1967 that Peggy Lee Martin was assigned to his team at Newark AFB. Once Bob began to take notice of this beauty, he never stopped. Bob and Peggy were happily married on May 24th, 1969, in Newark, OH.

In April of 1970, Bob returned to school at Franklin University to complete his degree, graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. At that time, he was working for the Department of Defense as a computer programmer in Columbus, OH. While there, a coworker began to minister to Bob and stir his thoughts towards spiritual matters. At the same time, a former supervisor, Cledys Henry, persisted in inviting him to services at First Baptist Church in Heath, OH, where Bob and Peggy began attending. Bob's faith became concrete for him following a sermon on tithing one Sunday. Bob said "yes" to tithing and by the following week, he was saying "YES" to the Lord. That Sunday, February 4, 1973, Bob committed his life to the Lord and he and Peggy were baptized together that night. It was in 1976 that several things began to shift for Bob. He and Peggy welcomed their son, Robert (Robbie) Martin Hare on November 28th of that year. Several months prior to Robbie's birth, while attending an event at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, NC, Bob began to sense the Lord may have a new direction for his life. A year later, again at Ridgecrest, Bob surrendered to the call to full-time ministry.

In December of 1977, Bob moved with his family to Slidell, LA, to complete his Master of Religious Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His first full-time call was as the Minister of Education and Youth at Parkland Baptist Church in Winter Haven, FL, from February 1980 to November 1983 when he became the Minister of Education and Administration at Avondale Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. In December of 1989, Bob began serving as Minister of Education and Administration at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. Bob transitioned to the Director of Religious Education for the Jacksonville Baptist Association in the mid 1990's before moving to Orlando in June of 1996 and accepting the position of Minister of Education and Administration at Delaney Street Baptist Church. In March of 1999, Bob began serving at North Park Baptist Church in Orlando as their Minister of Education and Administration.

Bob took his ministry international from 2002 to 2005 when he and Peggy relocated to Rochester, England, by way of Peggy's work with the Department of Defense. Bob kept busy with volunteer work at their local church, Cliffe Christian Mission, and mission trips to Tunisia and Bulgaria. Bob's passion for others and for sharing his faith continued upon their return to Orlando. In 2007, he and Peggy joined First Baptist Orlando where they became active members. Bob taught Bible studies, served on the advisory board of the Lydia House ministry, participated in mission trips to The Baptist College of Florida for fourteen summers, assisted in meal service preparation for large conferences at the church, and participated in a Canadian mission trip. Along with supporting countless missionaries across the world, Bob and Peggy served as volunteers at Ridgecrest Conference Center for five summers ministering to youth and adults alike.

In early 2010, Bob was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and began treatment on his birthday. After two years of treatment and an all-clear diagnosis, his doctor recommended a stem cell transplant to prevent this aggressive cancer from recurring. This enabled Bob to continue to enjoy many more years during which, along with his other ministries, Bob became active in First Baptist Orlando's cancer support group where he served through speaking engagements and mentoring others. In everything he did, Bob strived to honor the call he felt all those years ago at Ridgecrest in 1976: "… 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'" (John 21:17 ESV) In this way Bob's legacy is one of faith, love, and service to others.

Besides his loving wife of 53 years, Peggy Lee, he is survived by his son, Robert Martin Hare and his wife, Laura, of Charleston, SC; two brothers, Thomas R. Hare and his wife, Carolyn, of Waterville, OH, and Edward J. Hare and his wife, Nancy, of Sarasota, FL; and a sister, Elizabeth J. Gibbs and her husband, Dennis, of Casper, WY.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Baptist Orlando, 3000 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32805, on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Visitation will begin at 10 AM, the celebration service at 11AM, with a reception to follow.

You may view the livestream of the life celebration by clicking here

To share your memories of Bob or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating to the Ridgecrest Foundation, www.ridgecrestfoundation.com/donate. Checks can be made payable to Ridgecrest Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 128 Ridgecrest, NC 28770.