Robert H. “Bob” McNeese, age 71, passed away on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at his home in Baton Rouge after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bob was born Dec. 21, 1942, to Doris and Robert S. McNeese in Bogalusa. He graduated from Bogalusa High School and the College of Engineering at LSU, where he was a member of ROTC and a drummer for the LSU Tiger Band. He then served his country as a captain in the United States Air Force, which fueled his life-long love of aviation. Bob was the first employee at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge and was the director of facilities management until his retirement in 2009. Bob was a pilot and a musician. In addition to his love of planes and music, he was an avid railroad enthusiast. He always looked forward to vacationing in Colorado with his wife, Priscilla.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla McNeese of Baton Rouge; his mother, Doris Miller McNeese of Bogalusa; his daughter, Melinda McNeese (Larry) Braud of Baton Rouge; his brothers, G. Wayne McNeese (Bonnie) of New Iberia and Stanley L. McNeese (Mary) of Birmingham, Ala.; and the mother of his beloved children, Beverly Wood Pacas of Mize, Miss.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert S. McNeese; his maternal grandparents, William and Tena Miller; his paternal grandparents, Cauley Edward and Ruby McNeese; and his sons Robert H. “Bobby” McNeese Jr. and Kevin Daniel McNeese.

Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Government Street in Baton Rouge from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. Services will be held the following day at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa, 541 Avenue F, with Pastor Greg Whaley of First Baptist Church of Bogalusa and Pastor L.C. Lord of New Beulah Baptist Church of Baptist, La., officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue until religious services at noon. Interment will follow at Ponemah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, Hospice of Baton Rouge or Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation.