R obert J. Bethea, Jr. has witnessed gentle and compassionate care to individuals since he was a little kid in his hometown of Bakersfield, CA. At the ripe young age of 16 years old Robert began his quest at Jesse E. Cooley Funeral Services of Bakersfield, CA.

After completing high school Robert knew someday he wanted to own his own funeral home, so he set the foundation for preparations to accomplish such a goal as ownership. Robert first attended Mortuary school in Atlanta, GA. Shortly after attending Mortuary school, Robert's mother became ill, and he had to moved back to California to take care for her. After his mother's recovery, he joined the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman.

Robert received many awards and accolades while in the military, but his greatest achievement during this time was marrying his wife Monique, and the birth of their three children: Robert III “R.J.”, Aniyah, and Aubrey.

Robert was nominated for “Sailor of the Year” and receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for saving the life of an USS Cole victim.

It was after his second enlistment Robert decided to re-pursue his passion of Mortuary Science by attend embalming school in Kansas City, KS. While attending school Robert trained at Vann Funeral Services, in Wichita, KS; Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Chapel in Kansas City, MO; and completed his apprenticeship at Lakeview Funeral Home in Wichita, KS.
Robert successfully passed his Kansas State Board Exams and is currently licensed by the State of Kansas as a Professional Funeral Director and Embalmer.

It was while I was working at DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary in 2007 when the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to meet my partner Keith D. Biglow and establish Biglow-Bethea Funeral Directors, L.L.C.

I am one of Biglow’s biggest fans. “I feel that Keith Biglow is the finest Funeral Director and Mortician that I have ever seen. Keith Biglow makes certain that no detail is overlooked and that the service reflects the wishes of the family and represents the life lived by the deceased.