Robert J. Reiber

Robert J. Reiber, 96, of Dawsonville passed away Sunday December 18, 2011 at his residence following an extended illness.

Born June 15, 1915 in Keams Canyon, Arizona to the late Colonel Martin Robert and Mary Pfister Reiber, he was raised in a military family that lived and served in the Continental U.S., U.S. Territorial Islands, the Philippines, and Panama. Mr. Reiber was a graduate of the University of Georgia who reached the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II where he served as a medic in the Pacific Theater. He raised his family in Decatur, Georgia and at the same time was the head of the biology department at Georgia State University from which he retired in 1970. An avid hunter, he had travelled to Africa on over 10 safari hunts. Mr. Reiber also wrote articles and made photographs for numerous shooting magazines, and won many awards for being a world-class marksman. Since 1987 he had been a resident of Dawsonville where he was instrumental in developing the River Bend Gun Club. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Byrd Reiber, and brothers, Edward Reiber, Johnny Reiber, and sister, Betty Ann Moss.

Surviving are his sons and daughter in law, Bobby Reiber, Dawsonville, Jimmy and Pat Reiber, Columbus, GA; daughter and son in law, Susan and A.D. "Tom" Ferguson, Houma, LA; sisters, Josephine Lawrence, Satellite Beach, FL, Mary Louise Martin, Knotts Island, NC; brothers, James Reiber, Leesville, LA, Fritz Reiber, Lawerence, KS; grandchildren, Scott Ferguson, Mike Ferguson, Chris Ferguson, Kelly Koch, Caprice Reiber; and 7 great grandchildren.

At his request Mr. Reiber was cremated and private memorial services will be held.

Those who wish may make donations to the River Bend Gun Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Gene Gray, 1128 Promontory Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30062.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.