Bobby Gene Wallace was 80 years, 10 months and 9 days old when he passed away on March 7, 2023, at Mercy South Hospital in St. Louis from a brief illness.

Bobby was born April 27, 1942, in Washington, D.C. to the late Chester and Beulah Louise (Burney) Wallace.

Bobby grew up in the Windyville area of Mississippi County.  His family moved to town in 1960.  That's when he went to work at Burkart Foam in Cairo, Illinois.  He worked there for 25 years until he left in 1985.  He was of Baptist faith.

In 1985 Bobby became the grounds-keeper for the Dogwood Cemetery.  He would dig graves with a shovel until he was able to save enough money towards buying his own Kubota.  He dug graves all around the county.  Bobby became known as "The Grave Digger", and he was proud of that title.  You would see Bobby coming down the road in his Ford pickup, pulling that old Kubota behind  him.  When you saw him coming toward you, your thought was "Oh Lord, here comes Bobby"!  Bobby was well known in Mississippi County.  If you needed something buried, a hole dug, or a footing dug, Bobby was the go-to-guy.  His life's purpose was to help people.  Bobby will truly be missed.

Bobby is survived by one sister, Fae Despain of Oklahoma; one sister-in-law, Louise Wallace of Las Vegas, Nevada; as well as nieces, nephews, and many friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Bonnie Joe Wallace and Kindle Stanton Wallace.

Visitation for Bobby will be held Monday, March, 13, 2023, from 12 noon until 1 p.m. at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

Graveside services will follow at 1:15 p.m. at Dogwood Cemetery with Bro. Martin Lucas officiating.

Services under the care of Shelby Funeral Home.