Robert Eugene Paulk, Sr., 80, of Tifton died Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Steve Luke will officiate with burial to follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery. His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be any attending Law Enforcement Officers. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Paulk was born on July 12, 1933 in Chula and was the son of Robert Paulk and Louise Cromer Paulk, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Jimmy Paulk. He served as the Director of Security at ABAC from 1974 until his retirement in 1995. He attended Tift County High School. He loved his family first, loved fishing, camping and being around people. He was the first original “American Picker” and was a dedicated Christian.
Mr. Paulk is survived by his wife, Floy Mae Booth Paulk of Tifton; his children and their spouses, Bobby and Barbara Paulk, Randy and Beverly Paulk, Cathy Bryant, Nancy and Robert Lentz, all of Tifton and Beth and Mike Grice of Rocky Mount, Virginia; his siblings, Billy Paulk, Faye Fletcher and Annette Axston; his grandchildren, Robert E. Paulk III, Jessica S. Rackley, Farron A. Morris, Callie Angle, Joshua H. Grice, Brittany K. Pilkinton, Susan N. Moore, Crystal M. Stephens, Brooke Owen and Taylor N. Harper; and his great-grandchildren, Travis Harper, Tyler Gay, Eli Griffin, Robbie Paulk and Ashley Perry.