Robert Clark Hargreaves, affectionately known as Bob, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the age of 79, in Columbia, South Carolina.

Bob was born on January 2, 1947, in Gardner, Massachusetts, to the late Robert Rockwood Hargreaves and Marion Arline (Clark) Hargreaves. Bob lived in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan before eventually settling in South Carolina.

He attended Ferris University and spent the majority of his career in the automotive industry, mainly working as an automotive wholesaler. The automotive world was not just his profession, but a lifelong interest that reflected his curiosity, independence, and practical ingenuity.

Bob was uniquely and unapologetically himself — thoughtful, curious, and guided by his own inner compass. Quietly and without recognition, he often performed acts of kindness behind the scenes, preferring humility over acknowledgment. Those who knew him well understood his gentle generosity and steady goodness.

One of Bob's passions was folk music. He loved traveling with friends to attend concerts, an activity that brought him deep joy and connection. He also possessed a lifelong love of learning, which became one of his greatest pleasures. Later in life, Bob attended classes at the University of South Carolina, where he enthusiastically studied world religions and quantum physics, fascinated by the relationship between the two.

Bob also enjoyed trips down memory lane, often driving back to the places that shaped him.

He is survived by his two daughters, Sarah Shields and Jennifer Reiser, both of Atlanta, Georgia; and his four grandsons, Joseph, Nolan, and Henry Shields, and Dylan Reiser. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Benjamin Reiser.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, located at 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia, South Carolina. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Transitions Homeless Center, Harvest Hope Food Bank(harvesthope.org), or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(stjude.org).