Robert Wendell Speight, proud veteran
Robert Wendell Speight, 74, of Seaford, peacefully departed this life Saturday, July 16, 2022, surrounded by family at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark. He was born Monday, Sept. 15, 1947, in Snow Hill, Greene County, N.C. He was the firstborn of four children born to the late Mary Louise Harper Speight and Robert Lee Speight.
To his family, he was known as Robert or Wendell, Uncle Buddy to his nieces and nephews, and Spady to his friends.
In 1957, the family moved from North Carolina to Milford. After living in Milford for two years, the family moved to Bridgeville in 1959. Robert attended Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, William C. Jason Comprehensive High School and Bridgeville High School. He played football and baseball for the mighty, mighty Mustangs of Bridgeville High School.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army Oct. 6, 1966. He served in Vietnam and was discharged Oct. 4, 1968, as a specialist fourth class. He was the recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, aircraft crewman badge with two overseas bars, Air Medal (10th Oak Leaf Cluster), Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He was a helicopter mechanic and participated in sustained aerial flights in support of combat ground forces of the Republic of Vietnam. He participated in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory in support of counter-insurgency operations. He was always proud that he served his country.
When he returned from Vietnam, he purchased a 1969 fire red Camaro which he loved dearly. He loved to drive that Camaro and occasionally drag race with someone. He had a super chopper motorcycle that caused his mother many sleepless nights.
Upon his return from military duty, he was employed at the Dupont Company in Seaford on C shift, for many years. While employed at DuPont, he participated in their bowling and softball leagues. He also worked many years with James Thompson & Co. in Greenwood.
He was married to Patricia Demby Speight and from this union, they had one child, Bobbi Patrice Speight, whom he loved very much.
Whenever there was a family gathering or barbeque, Wendell was always on the grill. He considered himself a grill master and tried to teach those skills to his nephews. He loved participating in the Harper-Whitfield Family Reunions on his mother’s side of the family and the Lemmon Edwards Family Reunions on his father’s side of the family. He loved the reunions because he could laugh, joke and have a good time with his family. They loved listening to him talk. If you hung out with him long enough, he would have you in stitches.
When his health began to fail in 2016, his sister, Dorothy and niece, Sonya, became his caregivers, taking him to the VA Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., and Elsmere, the VA Clinic in Georgetown, and to whatever other medical appointments he had. His activities were limited but he loved watching old TV westerns for hours on end. He was an avid Oakland Raiders, now Las Vegas Raiders fan.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mary Louise Harper Speight and Robert L. Speight. He is survived by his daughter, Bobbi P. Speight of Georgetown; three sisters, Dorothy Speight, Mary “Ginger” Speight of Seaford, and Linda Lee Speight Hopkins of Paris, France; a special niece, Sonya Alston (Bill) of Magnolia; two nephews, Stephen Speight of Seaford, and Quentin Speight (Rachel) of Bloomington, Ind.; four great-nephews, Jordan T. Speight Sr. (Carmesha) of Smyrna, DeRon Speight of Willow Grove, Pa., Stephon Williams of Newark, and Taj Speight of Warner Robins, Ga.; one great-niece, Zuri Speight; three great-great-nephews, Jordan Speight Jr., Jaysen Speight and Stephon Asir Williams; one great-great niece, Kali Williams; one uncle, William R. Harper Sr. (Louise) of Farmville, N.C.; one aunt, Shelvia Jean Jordan of Farmville, N.C.; and a host of cousins, family and friends. He was blessed to have an extended family of surrogate mothers, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and loving neighbors, whom he loved very much.
There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, July 25, at Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 516 S. Main St., Hurlock, Md. A service to celebrate Robert's life will be Tuesday, July 26 with a viewing from 9 to 11 a.m. and the service commencing at 11 a.m., at Atlanta Road Alliance Church, 22625 Atlanta Road, Seaford.
To offer words of comfort or sign the guest book visit benniesmithfuneralhome.com.
Professional services entrusted to Bennie Smith Funeral Homes.
