John Robert Mantell III

On April 1, 2024, God called John Robert (Bob) Mantell III Home to Himself. Bob was born in Annapolis, MD, on September 9, 1952, to John Robert Jr. and Mary Louise Mantell. He grew up in Maryland and graduated from Severna Park High School in 1971.

He became a Christian in 1972 as a result of a friend’s witness followed by seeing Godspell performed at the Lincoln Theater in Washington. The Gospel changed everything for him. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; the new has come.” (II Cor. 5:17). He started attending church regularly as well as singles Bible study where he met Leslye Carroll McCauley. After their wedding on August 14, 1976, in Annapolis, Maryland, they moved to Longview, Texas, where Bob completed his Bachelor’s in Missiology at LeTourneau College In 1978.

Shortly after his graduation they joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. In 1980 they moved to Suriname, South America, where they learned Dutch and then Saramaccan, the language spoken by one of the maroon groups. Bob did a variety of jobs in Suriname including dubbing the Jesus film and the books of Acts and Luke into a number of different languages in Suriname as well as St. Lucia.

When Wycliffe finished the work in Suriname, Bob was asked to come to JAARS in Waxhaw, North Carolina, where he worked in the Creative Services Department helping with videos and photography until he retired in 2018 due to the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Bob loved the Lord and served Him and people everywhere he went. He loved music and played guitar, bass guitar, or drums whenever he could. As an amateur radio enthusiast (N3CXM, PZ5JR, and two other call signs), he connected with hundreds of people around the world via ham radio. He also loved humor, reading Louis L’Amour novels and Civil War history, photography and just being with people.

Bob will be missed by all who knew him. Yet we rejoice in knowing that he is now with his Lord and Savior whom he recognizes since he's been made whole. Bob is survived by his wife of 47 ½ years, Carroll, his three children, Corrie Victoria (Ryan) Kolbe, John Robert IV (fiancée, Gabriela) Mantell, and Jeremy David (Courtney) Mantell, a brother, William Hutchins (Rose) Mantell, a sister, Karen Diane (Bud) Strader, eight grandchildren, Victoria, Elisha, Nathaniel, Piper, Selah, Noah, Jazziel, and Andre, and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

We wish to thank Larry and Becky Erdman whose help over the last 4 years has been invaluable. We wish we could thank individually everyone who has helped us along this journey, but there are simply too many to name. We would like to mention our local church, Christ Covenant in Matthews, North Carolina, the staff at Brookdale South Park in Charlotte, Carmel Hills Assisted Living in Charlotte, the JAARS community, and Via Health Partners for their loving support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando FL 32862, or Carmel Hills (Resident Assistance Fund), 2801 Carmel Road, Charlotte NC 28226.

A worship service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at Christ Covenant Church, 800 Fullwood Lane, Matthews NC on April 26 at 11 a.m.