Mr. Robert James “Bob” Reynolds, 68, of Bloxom, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. Bob made his way into the world on Feb. 23, 1955, in Washington, D.C. He was the son of Audrey Mae Reynolds and the late Jimmy Edward Reynolds.
Bob graduated from DuVal High School and joined the U.S. Navy. He served his country for five years as a machinist mate and earned the Navy Expedition Medal and the Sea Service Ribbon.
It was after his time in the Navy that he met the love of his life, the young Virginia Louise “Ginny” Hannah. Ginny and Bob went to the same church, and she sang in the choir. He joined the choir, and as Ginny would find out years later, he only joined so that he could be closer to her. Whatever his plan may have been, it certainly seemed to work. Ginny Hannah became Ginny Reynolds on June 30, 1984, and the two enjoyed a lifetime of marriage and raising two girls until his passing.
Always curious about how anything worked, he could fix just about anything he set his mind to. He even built his own computer once. He had a long and productive career as a real property officer for NASA Wallops Flight Facility. He had an “engineer brain” and a “dad joke” sense of humor. Most mornings for an entire year, his Facebook friends were treated to his joke of the day.
Bob loved his family and enjoyed making the kids cringe with the corny jokes, which they secretly loved. He was a people person and could make friends with a rock. Bob loved to laugh and make others laugh. Is there any better gift from God than to be able to bring a smile on another’s face?
He was the textbook definition of a servant. He loved the Lord and his church (St. Thomas UMC, where he was the serving lay leader) and had a special place in his heart for Occohannock on the Bay, of which he served on the general board. Always willing to be involved with his community, Bob was a longtime member of American Legion Post 100 and the Eastern Shore Amateur Radio Club.
The family joked that he had a different hobby every week, as he was a HAM radio operator, photographer, and even king of the grill on his fishing and camping expeditions. For many years, he spent his weekends DJing local dances and events. He made sure to be his girls’ personal DJ, often playing Little Feat, Neil Diamond, and Queen so the girls could dance in the living room. His wife, kids, and grandkids made his life complete. He doted on all of them and they loved him more than anything. He will be tremendously missed.
He is survived by his loving wife, Virginia Louise Reynolds; mother, Audrey Mae Reynolds; children, Sarah Daley (Doug), of Brunswick, Md., and Ashley Reynolds, of Springfield; sister, Bonnie Lewis (Jeff), of Douglasville, Ga.; grandchildren, Dean Bixler, Audrey Daley, and Arthur Daley; four nieces; two nephews; and several extended family and friends.
Bob was predeceased by his father, Jimmy Edward Reynolds, and brother, Alan Reynolds.
A memorial service to honor the life of Bob Reynolds will be held Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m., at St. Thomas UMC, with the Rev. Bob Talbott officiating.
Memorial contributions in Bob’s name may be made to Occohannock on the Bay, 9403 Camp Lane, Belle Haven, VA 23306, http://www.ootbay.org/ or St. Thomas United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 485, Parksley VA 23421.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
