Obituary for Robert “Bob” Monroe Robert Newton “Bob” Monroe, age 85, of Midlothian, Virginia died Thursday, September 13, 2018 at his residence. Bob was born February 10, 1933, the oldest of three boys born to James Leo Monroe and Virginia Jordan Monroe. He was the senior class president of Clifton Forge High School’s Class of 1952; also editor of his high school newspaper.
He studied engineering at the University of Virginia and remained a proud “Wahoo” the remainder of his life, regardless of their poor football record. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Lee Golladay, on November 22, 1958. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with all their family two weeks ago due to Bob’s illness.
They were blessed with both a daughter and a son. Bob spent the majority of his working life in fire service which he dearly loved. He joined the Clifton Forge Volunteer Fire Department when he was a teenager in high school.
He later became Chief of the Department. He went on to become Chief of the Roanoke County Fire Department and Chief of the Winchester, KY Fire Department. Along the way, he taught Fire Science at Virginia Western Community College and at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
He concluded his fire service career as an Area Manager in the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, retiring in 1998. Bob has been active in the Methodist Church all his life. He was president of the MYF while in high school.
He served as head usher in Winchester, KY and at Mt. Pisgah. He was a member of the first class of Stephen Ministers at Mt.
Pisgah and has served on the Worship Committee and co-chaired Stewardship campaigns. He was head of the Richmond District Disaster Response Team. Bob and Barbara prepared the communion elements and were in charge of securing Communion Stewards for a number of years.
He served communion to shut-ins in KY and at Mt. Pisgah. He was responsible for setting up Stations of the Cross and decorating the sanctuary for the Advent season.
He was extremely proud to be awarded a Special Mission Recognition pin by the UMW at Mt. Pisgah. After his retirement, Bob became an AARP Safe Driving instructor and has received a number of state awards for the number of individuals he has taught.
He also enjoyed assisting with boat safety classes. His passion in the last few years was Captaining the BranderBelle pontoon boats for the Brandermill Community Association and serving as Director of the Brandermill Sailing Center. Bob was very much a people person and never met a stranger.
He loved helping people and always considered it a privilege, never an imposition, to drop whatever he was doing to help his fellowman. Bob was especially proud of his children and could go on forever telling you of their accomplishments. He loved to tease his grandchildren and was equally proud of them.
Bob was a member of the following Masonic organizations: Veteran (50+) member Clifton Forge Lodge 166 A.F.&A.M., Veteran member Midlothian Lodge 211 A.F. & A.M., Veteran member Alleghany Royal Arch Chapter 24, Royal Arch Masons of Virginia, member Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Roanoke, member Kazim Shriners, Roanoke, and member of Midlothian Ruritan Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Bill Monroe and James Leo “Buck” Monroe, Jr He is survived by his wife, Barbara Lee Golladay Monroe of Midlothian; a daughter, Bari Lee Monroe Mattingly and husband David of Lexington, KY; a son, Robert Newton Monroe II and wife Elizabeth of Glen Allen; a sister-in-law, Patricia “Pat” Monroe of Clifton Forge; four grandchildren, Carrie M. Mattingly, R. Brent Mattingly, Lilah M. Monroe, and Duncan R. Monroe; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Last but not least was his sweetheart, Gertie, an 8 lb. Yorkie who was by his side always at home and in the car and went with him on his numerous trips to Lowe’s and Home Depot. One of his safe driving students asked him one time “If your boat capsized with Barbara and Gertie in it and you could only save one, which would it be?
” He slowly replied, “Give me a minute”. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend W. Pembroke Hall officiating. Masonic rites will be presented by members of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge # 166 A.F. & A.M. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge.
The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon from 1:00 PM until the time of service at Nicely Funeral Home. In addition, a Celebration of Life service will follow on Tuesday, September 18 at 2:00 PM in Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in Midlothian.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Shriner Children’s Hospital or to the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. To send flowers to the family of Robert “Bob” Monroe, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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