Robert Emory Markwood, of Williamsburg, died Sept. 30, 2015, at the age of 82.
He was born Nov. 16, 1932, in Macon, Georgia. He was the fifth of seven children born to Frank and Mary Rodes Markwood.
When Bob was still a young child, the family returned to Charlottesville. He was raised by his aunt, Elizabeth Chewning, after the death of his parents when he was about 5 years old. He grew up in Charlottesville and attended the Miller School, then received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia.
He moved to Texas after graduation from UVA to work for Shell Oil. While in Houston, he met Madeline Tolson, to whom he was married for 60 years. The couple moved to Chester with their two children in 1965.
Bob worked as a senior project engineer for Philip Morris in Richmond until his retirement in 1988. For reasons known only to his staff of professional engineers, he was known as “Bullet Bob.” In 1991, he and Madeline moved to Kingsmill in Williamsburg where he had hoped to spend as much time as possible playing golf, if not for the onset of Parkinson’s Disease shortly after they had resettled.
He and Madeline enjoyed several cruises and trips throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Since 2003, Bob was a resident of Williamsburg Landing, where he received assisted living services as he dealt with the progressive difficulties of Parkinson’s.
He is survived by his wife; children, Mark (Caral) Markwood and Sherrie (Bob) Brown; grandsons, Alex (Jena) Brown and Nate (Britany) Brown; sisters, Lynn McClench, Josephine (Tom) Blue and Suzanne Yowell; sister-in-law, Jane Markwood; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, William and Thomas and sister, Elizabeth.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Williamsburg Landing for their many years of providing excellent care to Bob.
At his request, there will be no services. A gathering of family and friends will occur at a later date.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
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