The following is a personal observation and farewell by DIHS President and Co-Founder Beth Bush on the passing of her friend Bob Tuten.
I recently learned of the passing of a dear gentleman who had a special connection to Daniel Island — and whose stories of his time here have provided valuable insights into our island’s unique history.
Born in 1927, Bob Tuten grew up on the island in the 1930s. According to the book “Daniel Island” by Michael K. Dahlman and Michael K. Dahlman, Jr., Bob’s father managed Bard Farm, one of six truck farms on the island operated by the American Fruit Growers Company. He was just 8 years old when the family moved here in 1935 from Varnville, South Carolina. They lived in a modest two bedroom house in an area near the present day Talison Row apartment complex. Bob spent six years on the island and would later write detailed accounts of his daily life here – and his adventures with his childhood friend, Isaac. Some of those accounts can be found in the Dahlmans’ book.
I had the honor of meeting Bob when he returned to the island in 2010, at age 83, with his son, Keith. They took a tour of the island and Bob shared many recollections from the days of his youth that I was able to document for an article in The Daniel Island News. https://www.thedanielislandnews.com/opinions/former-di-resident-returns-after-70-years
In more recent years, when Bob was well over 90 years old, he shared quite a few more stories with the Daniel Island Historical Society for a series on our website called “IN THEIR OWN WORDS.” https://dihistoricalsociety.com/in-their-own-words/
Bob passed away in March of 2024, at age 96, at his home in Indialantic, Florida. He leaves behind countless family and friends who will cherish their time with him – myself included. I was blessed to know Bob and considered him a friend. He would often excitedly call me or send me texts and emails when he remembered something new from his childhood. All of those wonderful stories are now a treasured part of our collective Daniel Island history – and we will forever be grateful to Bob for making sure they are never forgotten. May he rest in peace. Beth Bush