Bobby Joe Eisenburg

In John 14:2 Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

On November 13, 2023, Jesus fulfilled that promise when he called Bobby J. Eisenburg of Crestview, Florida to join Him in His heavenly home at the age of 90.

Bobby crammed a lot of life into those 90 years. Born March 14, 1933, in Atlanta, Ga., he spent his childhood years in Douglasville, Ga. working on the family farm. At the young age of 18, he joined the Air Force which he made a career for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. During his Air Force career, he experienced combat duty in both the Korean Conflict as well as the Viet Nam War.  Additionally, he spent approximately 5 years in Germany where he was responsible for training Military K9s.

Bobby was a talented athlete and enjoyed all kinds of sports.  While in the Air Force, he played for Air Force Interservice football team and was recruited by multiple colleges. Many of his teammates were prior or future NFL players. He also played baseball for the Air Force. He loved fishing and hunting with his boys who he bragged on continuously.  He was an avid golfer.  Just weeks before his passing, he was on the golf course at 90 years old still shooting scores a 40-year-old (or younger) would be proud of.

Not many people know that Bobby was once a professional wrestler, going by “Big Bob Eisenburg” and the “masked” name of “The Cobra Kid”. Much to his daughter Belinda’s pride, (she was about 3 at the time, and made her mom cringe every time she would say she wanted to wrestle like daddy when she grew up) he wrestled for several years at various venues in the Florida panhandle and south Alabama.

After returning home from Viet Nam in the late 60’s Bob recognized that he needed salvation and asked Jesus Christ into his heart.  Almost simultaneously he felt the call to full time Christian ministry.  Over the next 50 years, he pastored several churches in South Carolina, Alabama and ultimately, Crestview, Florida.

When the roll is called up yonder there will be hundreds including “death row” inmates, countless homeless people and church members who will testify that Bob Eisenburg introduced them to their Savior Jesus Christ. He was truly one of those people who would give someone the shirt off his back and literally gave thousands of dollars away over the years to those in need. Second only to his love for his Lord, Bob would tell you his greatest achievement and honor was marrying his bride Jessie West (1955) and being the father of his three wonderful children, Audie, Belinda, and Cres. We’ll miss you, Bobby Eisenburg.  Congratulations on a life well lived. Until we meet again.

Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, Lottie and George Eisenburg as well as his brother Willard.

 Survivors include: Jessie Eisenburg (wife); Audie Eisenburg, his son (Debbie); Belinda Eisenburg Swearingen, his daughter (Terry); Cres Eisenburg, his son (Tammy); Sara Lambright (sister); Lamar Eisenburg (brother); Grandchildren – Joshua DelPozo, Heath DelPozo, Ashley Phillips Great Grandchildren – Alicia Phillips, Braylon Phillips, Chloe Phillips, Ava DelPozo, Liam DelPozo.

A time of visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 5:00-7:00pm at Whitehurst-Powell Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bobby Joe Eisenburg, please visit our floral store.