Robert Newell Pulliam

Robert Newell Pulliam, of Winston-Salem, died Wednesday, May 12 at the Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home following a long illness. Robert was born to Reba Newell Pulliam and Elizabeth Green Pulliam on December 12, 1942 in Winston-Salem, where he lived all of his life. He began his education at Ardmore School, where he made friends that he maintained through his life. He graduated from Reynolds High School in 1961 and from Wake Forest University in 1965. He began his professional career as an accountant at A.M. Pullen, becoming the Finance Director of Forsyth County in 1974, and starting his own CPA practice in 1976. Throughout his career, he enjoyed pushing the boundaries of the accounting profession into a nascent field of forensic accounting; performing valuations, teaching and evangelizing, and testifying as an expert witness in trials across the country. His creativity, analytical abilities, and attention to detail served him well in the field until the age of 75 when he finally retired. Outside of work, he surrounded himself with all of his loves: his family, his church, and his golf.  Family was important to Robert, and he especially enjoyed interactions with his grandchildren, traveling across the country with them, engaging in wordplay, puzzles, games, and working to develop the same sense of values that he has learned as a child. He married his first love and high school sweetheart, Rosemary; joking that their first date was at a church retreat at Fort Caswell when he was 11 and she was 9. He loved his God and his church, offering his leadership and his passion (especially through his participation in the choirs) at Knollwood Baptist and then at Centenary Methodist. His love of the music was contagious; seen in the enormous smile on his face, the devilish gleam in his eyes, and the bounce in his step as he walked down the aisle, particularly when he could hit the lowest of the bass notes. He also loved taking every opportunity to play golf, ignoring possible distractions like chemo, recent surgeries or illness, playing up until 3 weeks before his death. Robert loved life, and that love was contagious and apparent to all.   He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rosemary Greenwood Pulliam, a sister, Cheryl Lynn Pulliam of Charlotte, a daughter, Anne Pulliam Tambling of Winston-Salem, a son, Bob Pulliam, of Daniel Island, SC and a daughter in law, Kyunga Lee. He leaves behind five grandchildren whom he adored: Caroline Tambling of Los Angeles, CA, Gray Tambling of Winston-Salem, Chris Tambling of Greenville, NC, and Andy and Henry Pulliam of Daniel Island.   A memorial service will be held 2:00 Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Centenary Methodist Church (646 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101). Following the service, the family will receive friends at the Pulliam home.  Condolences may be made online at www.salemfh.com.