March 1, 1947 — December 27, 2025
Robert Grady Wages, Jr. passed away on December 27, 2025 at age 78, after a long decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Robert was born in Hartwell, Georgia, to Robert Grady Wages, Sr. and Margie Thornton Wages, whose deaths precede him. Though he had no blood siblings, Robert enjoyed lifelong bonds with honorary sisters who grew up alongside him on Highland Avenue: fellow only children Carolyn and Martha Jo. He maintained close ties with the class of 1965 from Hart County High School. He also kept in touch with friends from North Georgia College (NGC), now called the University of North Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in business in 1969.
Robert demonstrated discipline early in life. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and developed an interest in the military at a young age, hence his participation in NGC’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program and promotion to captain in the U.S. Army. For his courageous service as an Army Ranger in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) during the Vietnam War, Robert was awarded a Bronze Star Medal.
While engaging in ground combat, Robert promised God that if he returned home, he would attend church every Sunday and never kill a living thing again. (He made an exception for the Japanese beetles that plagued his wife’s garden.) That deal resulted in dedicated church attendance, declined invitations to hunt with friends, and pastimes including canoeing and catch-and-release fly fishing, which helped him decompress from a demanding career in the carpet industry. While still of sound mind, Robert remembered the names of all his colleagues’ spouses, children, and pets.
Throughout his final days, Robert remained ferociously in love with and attracted to his wife, Lynn Chambers Wages. Lynn took care of him at their home in Calhoun, Georgia, for more than a decade until his deteriorating condition required a move to memory care and eventually a skilled nursing facility. Robert took immense pride in providing for Lynn and his two daughters, Timber Muñoz (Edward) of Augusta, Georgia, and Bobbin Eastwood (Ryan) of Atlanta, all who will carry out Robert’s wish for them: to move on with their lives and be happy.
The memory of Robert’s strong, eccentric personality persists. Despite long work hours before retirement, Robert maintained his fitness with 4:30 a.m. walks on the road across from his home, which he nicknamed “The Hill of Life.” Because of his offbeat sense of humor, the people he spoke to often wondered if they were supposed to laugh. When asked how he was doing, Robert was known to reply, “If I were any better, I’d have to be twins!” He also confused friends and telemarketers by answering the phone with phrases like “Bob’s Burger Barn!” Robert’s quirky spirit perseveres through not only his daughters but also his grandchildren, Artemis and Sonder Muñoz, and Rhodes and Greer Eastwood.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 1, 2026 from 2 PM until 4 PM at Thomas Funeral Home in Calhoun, Georgia. A graveside service with military honors in the Georgia National Cemetery will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 2 PM with Reverend Jeremy Noffsinger in charge of graveside rites.
Instead of flowers, the family prefers a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, Wounded Warrior Project, or Tunnel to Towers Foundation–and that you, dear reader, make the most of your ephemeral life today.
You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com
Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Robert G. Wages, Jr.
