Robert Huntington Cropp, 79, of Williamsburg, passed away Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. Known to family and friends as “Bob,” he spent the last 20 years as an active community resident of Williamsburg.
He was born Oct. 1, 1937, in Wheeling, W.Va., where his father was minister of the First Presbyterian Church. Bob later lived in White Plains, N.Y. During the war years, his family lived in Asbury Park, N.J., College Park, Ga., and Monterey, Calif. In 1951, Bob moved to San Marino, Calif., with his family. He graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School in 1955. Bob graduated Cum Laude from the University of Redlands and earned his Master of Arts Degree in American History from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1960. Listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities,” he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society.
Robert joined the IBM Corporation in San Francisco, Calif., in 1960 and began a 35-year career in Education Centers, Systems Engineering, Marketing, and Business Management before retiring to Williamsburg in 1997. His career with IBM took him to Honolulu, Hawaii, Sacramento, Calif., White Plains, N.Y., Los Angeles, Calif., Washington, D.C., and back to White Plains, N.Y.
Bob had been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of the Colonial Capital, the Middle Plantation Club, Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and Governor’s Land at Two Rivers. Always an active volunteer, he especially enjoyed his activities with the Boy Scouts of America. Bob was a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Bible Society. He enjoyed time with family, traveling, gardening, men’s book club, bridge, golf and community cultural events.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Perkins Cropp and Frederick William Cropp Jr.; and brother, Frederick William Cropp III.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gloria Taylor Cropp, five sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey (Mary) Cropp of Seattle, Wash., Gregory (Jennifer) Cropp of Doylestown, Pa., David (Genevieve) Cropp of Dacula, Ga., Kevin (Sarah) Cropp of Wellesley, Mass., and Brian (Amy) Cropp of Bethesda, Md.; and 12 grandchildren, Ryan, Catherine, Brian, Grace, Jacob, Caroline, Robert, Kendall, James, Lilly Kate, George and Claire.
The family is grateful to the outstanding medical staff at the VCU/MCV Pauley Heart Center in Richmond for their excellent care, allowing us to have extended time with Bob over the past three years.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185; or to the MCV Foundation in support of the VCU Pauley Heart Center. Checks should be made payable to MCV Foundation and mailed to MCV Foundation, P.O. Box 980234, Richmond, VA 23298.
Online condolences may be offered at nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
