Robert Knox Capps

Robert Knox Capps, a native of the Steele Creek Community, died September 21, 2015, at age 104. He had been a resident at The Laurels, an Assisted Living facility in Pineville NC, since 2003. Mr. Capps was the son of Robert Newton Capps and Martha Samuel (Mattie) Crowell Capps of Steele Creek and Charlotte. He was born on March 18, 1911, the sixth of their children. His early years were spent in the Steele Creek area. In the 1920s, the family moved into Charlotte. Mr. Capps was educated in the local schools and was a 1928 graduate of Central High School. Mr. Capps also attended a number of specialized courses offered by General Motors, as he advanced in his career there. In his 42 years with General Motors, Mr. Capps served in seven cities. He began his career during the Depression as an order-filler while attending high school; he ended his career as Administrator for Parts Marketing. He opened two new parts warehouses for Buick and moved two others to new locations. After his retirement in 1973, Bob and his wife, Muriel, moved back to the Charlotte area near where he had grown up and where his brothers and sisters lived. Mr. Capps was a lifelong Presbyterian. During his working career, he was a deacon or elder in five different churches around the country. After he moved back to Charlotte, Mr. Capps again became a member of Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church. After many years of active service at Pleasant Hill, Mr. Capps was named elder emeritus, an honor he especially cherished. In 2001, Mr. Capps wrote his autobiography "What Makes Bob Tick." In 2007, he added additional memories in "Along the Way." He continued to write down his memories of his childhood, his experiences, and his work. For his 100th birthday, all of his writing was combined into "Bob Capps: My 100 Years." It gave Mr. Capps great satisfaction to leave a record for future generations. In March of 2011, family and friends gathered to celebrate his 100th birthday. On the day of the big party, members of the Carolina Chapter of the Buick Club of America stopped by with their classic cars. Mr. Capps is survived by a son, Robert Webster Capps and his wife, Kay; daughter, Susan Capps Leet and her husband, Jeff; and stepdaughter, Katherine Marie Nieman and her husband, Roy. Other survivors include granddaughters, Lisa Capps Ahern and her husband, Tim; and Amy Capps McIntire and her husband, John. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Andrew (Andy) McGaffney McIntire and Kathryn (Katie) Capps McIntire; and several special nieces and nephews. A host of friends and family will miss him terribly and are grateful each day for his life. Mr. Capps was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Webster, who died in August 1963; and by his second wife, Muriel Koopman, who died in March 2008. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Charles Ross Capps and Samuel Crowell Capps; and by his sisters, Mary Margaret Capps Brown and Emma Catherine Capps Carpenter. Thank you to Hospice for their support, to Shannon for her loving care, and to The Laurels staff. Funeral services will be held at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, 15000 York Road, on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church, prior to the service. n lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204; hpccr.org.