WILMINGTON — Robert (“Bob the Dad”) Lee Carper, III, age 81, passed away unexpectedly at his Hedingham residence in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 25, 2025.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, to Robert Lee Carper and Lucy Clark Carper, Bob’s childhood was spent moving frequently to support his father’s Air Force career before the family settled in Salisbury, MD, in 1960.
Bob dedicated nearly twenty years to introducing fetal monitoring technology to doctors and hospitals in the Carolinas. A devoted Duke Blue Devils sports fan, he attended games for decades.
He is survived by his sons, Scott of Oakwood, GA, and John (wife Wendy) of Wilmington, NC; his brother Mike (wife Joann) of Lancaster, PA; his former wife and mother of his children, Pat Hargest Moore of Rougemont, NC; his longtime companion, Clara Eakes of Timberlake, NC; and beloved granddogs Ellwood, Emma Jane, and Disco. He was predeceased by his daughter Kelly and his best friend, Dr. Jarlath MacKenna. One of Scott’s favorite memories is watching Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater shot against Kentucky in 1992 with his father, a moment that heralded Duke’s back-to-back National Championships.
Bob enjoyed watching college basketball and taking smoke breaks on his porch. He was active with his seniors’ group in Hedingham, often helping transport his neighbors to appointments and errands throughout the area. His neighbors enjoyed extended conversations with him, and he kept a bag of dog treats on his porch for the furry friends. Bob was a long-time member of the Bull City Sertoma Club, volunteering for many years to sell concessions for Duke Football games and the Duke Children’s Golf Classic. He loved being on the boat and intimately knew the waters of Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, Lake Gaston, and Harker’s Island.
Bob lived a simple lifestyle in his later years, and the family will celebrate privately this summer with hot crabs and cold beer.
In his honor, please enjoy a tall, cold one and cheer on the 2025 Duke basketball team to great post-season success.
