Robert P. (Bob) Gaines died on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

Bob was born April 6, 1927, in Daytona, FL to Marion Toulmin Gaines and Marion Howie Gaines. The family moved to Jacksonville when Bob was an infant, then to Mobile, AL, and finally to Pensacola, FL where he graduated from Pensacola High School at the age of 16. Too young to attend college, Bob worked at the News-Journal as a copy-editor, where his father was an editor. He graduated from the University of Florida, BA with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1950. Bob entered the US Army and served during the Korean conflict. He returned to the University of Florida and earned his LLB, with honors in 1956 and was admitted to the Florida Bar. The same year, he joined the Beggs & Lane Law Firm where he was a Civil Trial Lawyer in the areas of aviation, maritime, product liability, and general tort law until the age of 76. Bob was admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida (1957); the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1959); the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1981); and the U.S. Supreme Court (1988). While taking a deposition, Bob met Doris Bolton, who became his wife. Doris was a court reporter and secretary to the circuit judge in Crestview.

Bob and Doris were married in 1961, and lived in Cordova Park where they began raising their three children. Bob and Doris were avid golfers and members of the Scenic Hills Country Club where Bob was a charter member. In 1973, they moved to Scenic Hills. They were supporters of the arts in Pensacola, particularly the Chamber Music Festival and the Pensacola Symphony. They were members of several Mardi Gras groups and the Debutante Charity Cotillion. Bob was a devoted Christian, very active in Christ Episcopal Church. He served on the vestry and as Senior Warden. He served as Chancellor of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Bob served on many and various committees and commissions both at church and in civic life. He was a member of Rotary International.

Bob is pre-deceased by his wife of 48 years, Doris B. Gaines; infant brother, Edmund Pendleton Gaines; sister, Helen Gaines Hunter; and his brother, Marion Toulmin Gaines.

Bob is survived by his daughters and son-in-laws, Jennifer McKenzie (Ken) and Amante Coppes (David); son, Edmund Gaines; brother, Harry T. Gaines; and six grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 18 West Wright Street, at 10:30 a.m. on All Souls Day—Friday, November 2, 2018. A reception will follow the service in the parish hall.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Christ Church Endowment Trust, 18 West Wright St., Pensacola, FL 32501 or to the Hurricane Relief Fund for the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, P. O. Box 13330, Pensacola, FL 32591-3330.