A well-known law enforcement officer who served 38 years as a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy has died of complications from COVID-19, his wife said.
Robert Lee “Robbie” Amos, 66, of Columbus, died at 9:18 p.m. Friday at Community Hospital South of Greenwood, according to his widow, Hallie Amos.
Amos had been in and out of the hospital for the past 20 months for treatment of medical problems, his wife said. He had been suffering complications that resulted in damage to his left shoulder, right hip and right knee, she said.
But her husband had recently been showing enough progress at a Greenwood rehabilitation center that the family was told he could be brought home temporarily at the end of the week, she said.
However, his immune system had become extremely weak due to treatments, she said. She believes her late husband contracted the virus while he was in the rehabilitation center.
On Friday morning, Robert Amos was rushed to the hospital after developed what appeared to be cyanosis — a condition that lowers the oxygen level in the blood to the degree that the patient’s skin turns blue and the patient develops a shortness of breath.
After he was examined and placed on a ventilator, hospital personnel informed Hallie Amos that her husband had contracted COVID-19, she said.
The word came from the doctors five-and-a-half hours later that her husband was dying, Hallie Amos said. His final words, according to his widow, were: “Sorry, Hallie. I love you.”
Beside his wife, he is survived by three adult children and two adult stepchildren.
Robert Amos was one of five children born to Maurice Dale and Ann Amos, who were members of an affluent family in the Edinburgh area. Their business holdings ranged from banks and farms to golf courses in Johnson County. Some of their most prominent companies included Amos Plastics and Amos-Hill Associates, both in Edinburgh.
In 1972, Rob Amos graduated from a private boarding school in Leelanau, Michigan, and began attending Franklin College. Rather than make his career with the family businesses, Amos decided he wanted to work in law enforcement, he once said in an interview.
He was hired as a patrol officer for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department in August, 1974. During his early days as a deputy, he also served as the department’s photographer, according to friend and former co-worker Christie Sims.
As a deputy, Amos served as a pilot, scuba diver, firearms instructor, and emergency vehicle operations instructor for his department, Sims said. He was often placed in charge of large scale department operations such as Operation Pullover, which involves setting up sobriety checkpoints at times such as New Year’s Eve.
Another former deputy, Merrill Henderson, described Amos as one of his best friends, as well as “one of the best deputies this county has ever seen.”
“Robbie loved to serve the citizens of the county,” Henderson stated. “Whether on or off duty, he was there to help when needed.”
Diana Hawley Mann, who had been married to former Bartholomew County Sheriff Dave Manny, recalls Amos as being the first to volunteer to help with county events such as Hope Heritage Days or volunteer fire department fundraisers.
“I know from experience in campaigning all around the county that Robbie was well known,” Hawley Mann said. “Whether you were in Hope or Jonesville, the people knew him. That doesn’t happen unless you are involved and make an impression.”
Amos was also considered a talented chef who catered a number of celebrations and get-togethers, including parties at his own home, Sims said.
“Amos had a very giving spirit,” Sims said. “Anyone who needed anything, Robbie was always there.”
After leaving the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, he served a number of years as a reserve deputy with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department before he was sidelined by ill health.
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Columbus Regional Hospital confirmed a patient died Monday morning at the local hospital due to COVID-19.
No further details on that case are being released at this time.
The person who died Monday would be Bartholomew County’s second confirmed death due to the virus.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting said he has one coroner’s case that is being investigated as a possible COVID-19 death, but said Monday the woman’s test results have not come back yet.
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