Obituary: Barry ‘Bobby’ Spector, 76

Barry “Bobby” Spector, 76, died Saturday, Aug. 29, at Emory University Hospital near his boyhood home.

A lifelong Atlantan, he graduated from Grady High School early, earning in the process the school’s Golden G honor for scholarship. He matriculated to Emory University and the following academic year transferred to the University of Georgia, graduating with the Class of 1960 with a B.S. in psychology. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he led his family’s textile business, Southern Products Co. Under his guidance the company supplied national chains and small stores alike with textiles and related merchandise and for a time provided Opening Day bunting to the Atlanta baseball teams. Barry also established his own retail fabric stores, Fabrics-Fabrics, which were located throughout Georgia.

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As a Southern gentleman, Barry took great pride in landscaping of the family home and immensely enjoyed gardening. However, nothing gave him more pleasure than being “Pop” and spending time with his family, especially on family trips.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rosalind; daughter Lynne S. Raphael of Marietta; sons Harry of Arlington, Va., and Marc and his wife, Amy, of Sudbury, Mass.; and five grandchildren, Sam and Michelle Raphael and Emma, Michael and Ryan Spector. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, David Raphael.

Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Services will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Atlanta at noon Monday, Aug. 31. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces or the organization of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.