Robert “Bobby” E. Gladson, 77, a resident of Chocowinity, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.

The funeral service will be conducted Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery, Washington.

Mr. Gladson, a native of Pitt County, had been a lifelong resident of Beaufort County and attended Grimesland School. For a number of years, he helped his father farm and was later employed with Beaufort Equipment Co. as a mechanic, retiring in 2002 after 45 years of service. He was a member of Wayside Presbyterian Church. A devoted husband, Mr. Gladson was a loving father and proud grandfather.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, RueNell Payne, Dorothy Bryant and Lou Thrower; and brothers, David Gladson and James Gladson.

He is survived by his wife, Alva Jane Elks Gladson; daughters, Kathryn G. Elks and husband, David, of Wake Forest and Stephanie G. Woolard and husband, Todd, of Chocowinity; grandchildren, Tyler Elks, of Raleigh, Matthew Elks, of Kansas City, Mo., Zachary Elks, of Wake Forest, Meredith Kerns, of Washington and Holden Kerns, of Greenville; brother, Ervin Gladson and wife, Irene, of Chesapeake, Va.; sister, Betty Brian, of Franklin, Ind.; and a special niece, Pat Hoekstra, of Grand Rapids, Mich.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.