Robert Holmes Oswald

Robert Oswald Obituary

Robert Holmes Oswald
January 26, 1928 – August 28, 2025

Robert Holmes Oswald, 97, passed away at USA Medical Hospital Trauma Center Thursday, August 28, 2025. Robert was the third and youngest child born to Charles Alfred Oswald, Jr. and Jeanette Bibby Oswald on January 26, 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama. He married Betty Jean Robinson Oswald at Zion Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama in 1966. 

At a young age, Bob made his profession of faith in Birmingham, Alabama. He and Betty attended First Baptist Church, Pascagoula, where he led Sunday School classes for their couples group when needed. At his death, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs.

His family moved to Pascagoula in 1941. Bob attended Pascagoula High School and left before graduating with the Class of 1945 to enlist in the United States Navy in World War II. He served in the Pacific on the aircraft carriers USS Sargent Bay and USS Tripoli. In 1946, Bob returned home in time to receive his diploma with the PHS graduating Class of 1946. Robert attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, after which he attended Tulane University in New Orleans, and Jackson School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. He was admitted to practice law in 1951.

Bob served in the Army National Guard during the Korean War, after which he began his practice of law in the office of Attorney Karl Wiesenburg in Pascagoula. His practice of law continued until 1978 when he was elected a Chancery Judge of the 16th Chancery Court District of Jackson, George and Greene Counties 1979-1992. During his career as a judge, he became a leader among the state judges to modernize and improve the court system throughout Mississippi. The result was modern rules and procedures, and introducing the use of computers. For this he was the recipient of the Distinguished Jurist Award presented by Mississippi State University Pre-Law Society 1989 in recognition of intense commitment to principles of due process and equal justice under law, activity dedicated to the improvement of our legal system, and service in the pursuit of the ethical conduct of legal affairs. He became active in the Democratic Party, serving as Jackson County Democratic Chairman for 12 years. He was elected President of the Young Democrats in 1960; Red Cross Disaster Chairman from 1955-1973; Charter President of the Pascagoula Optimist Club; Lt. Governor of Optimist International 1972-1973; attorney for the Pascagoula School District; County Administrator, Jackson County; Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Association 1992; received the Mississippi Bar Award of Merit 1993; and served as Vice Chair of the Mississippi Judicial Advisory Study Committee 1993-2006. He wrote the newspaper column Devil’s Advocate for the Gautier-Independent newspaper and was instrumental in the organization of the City of Gautier. Robert retired as a judge in 1991 and joined the law firm of William T. Reed in Pascagoula. He retired from practicing law in 1999.

Throughout their marriage, Betty and Bob enjoyed being together. You rarely saw one without the other. Their marriage was a true love affair since they met at Pascagoula High School in 1941. He was always building a set or behind stage when Betty directed plays at MGCCC, and enjoyed driving her to debate tournaments with her students from the University of South Alabama, or to Delta Kappa Gamma conventions. They enjoyed many weekends with the children boating to Horn Island. Their love of travel included family trips with the children to Disney World the first year it opened, to Washington, D.C.,Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon, Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy, Peggy’s Cove; and a road trip between Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Durango, Kayenta and Cortez to enjoy other national parks and monuments. He and Betty visited all 49 contiguous states, plus 31 foreign countries.

Bob was preceded in death by the love of his life just seven months ago. His daughters have faithfully attended to him since her death. In addition to his wife, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Alfred Oswald, Jr. and Jeanette Bibby Oswald; his sister, Linda Oswald Goodwin; his brother Charles Alfred Oswald III; and his sons, Robert Holmes Oswald, Jr. and Glenn Porter Dismukes, Jr.                                                       

He is survived by his daughters, Robyn Oswald Fairbanks, Rebecca Oswald, Pamela Jean Dismukes Perkins and husband, Weldon Darcy Perkins; his grandchildren, Eric Zoller, Aaron Zoller, Luke Zoller (Rattana), Antoine Auger, Gabrielle Oswald Auger Crapser (Drew), Philippe Auger, Matthew Earl Perkins (Sarah), Darcy Rebecca Perkins Ross (Peter), and Richard Holmes Perkins (Lindsey); his great grandchildren, Zachary Zoller, Austin Zoller, Max Zoller, Mirabelle Zoller, Margot Auger, Marion Auger, Emma Holmes Crapser, June Arlene Perkins, Matthew Weldon Perkins, William Marion Perkins, Samuel Perkins Ross, Benjamin Peter Ross, Eli James Ross, Libby Nan Perkins, and Caroline Holmes Perkins; and nephew and nieces, Ben Goodwin (Judith), Anysia Oswald (Tom Singer), Aimee Oswald Sellars (Larry), and Lorin Oswald Cademartori (Kevin).

The family wishes to thank family friend Melinda Moody Jones; Elder, Greg Worch; Asst. Pastor, Kory Duncan, and Pastor Scott Castleman from First Presbyterian Church, Ocean Springs.

The visitation will be held Monday, September 1, 2025, from 10:00-12:00 with services following at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Pascagoula, MS. Interment with military honors will follow at Machpelah Cemetery with his grandsons, Eric Zoller, Luke Zoller, Antoine Auger, Philippe Auger, Matt Perkins, Richard Perkins, and Peter Ross as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers are Honorable Bill Reed, Judge Bob Krebs, Judge Jaye Bradley, Judge Kathy King Jackson, Judge Mark Maples, Judge Neil Harris, Judge Glen Barlow, Lynn Presley, Tommy Brodnax, and John Strickler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity or organization of your choice or to First Presbyterian Church, 921 Ocean Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564.

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