Leesburg, VA – Robert L. Christy passed away peacefully on April 29, 2020 with loving family by his side.

Bob was born in Philadelphia, PA to Leslie and Laura (Laird) Christy.  He got an early start in life.  With the demands of the Second World War, his father was called upon to return to the Philadelphia Naval Yard.  This left Bob and his older brother to oversee the running of the family garage and filling station: at 12 years old, he was opening up the garage, scheduling work, procuring parts and collecting payments.  All clearly foundational for his enduring ingenuity and commitment to hard work.  His lifelong love of sand and sea was born spending summers with his grandmother and siblings in Wildwood, NJ.  Fortune shone on him when in 1949 he met Peggy (Spangenberg) to whom he was married for more than 67 years.

After attending public schools in Philadelphia, and while working full-time and raising his growing family, he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University.  A Navy reservist for 20 years, he attained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer while serving on diesel/electric submarines (primarily USS Sea Owl and USS Quillback). His entrepreneurial spirit led him to develop and/or acquire multiple successful businesses in packaging and material handling equipment.  He gained much satisfaction from this achievement and proudly created opportunities for his family and the people he employed.  Bob was a natural leader with boundless energy (even when it may have exhausted those around him), and inspired confidence in others.  He thought big and got things done. When the demands of travel between his geographically distant businesses became burdensome, he acquired a pilot's license. He was resilient in adversity.

In business and in life, Bob was never idle.  He loved boating and as a young father would re-furbish boats for family fun.  Well into retirement he cruised up and down the east coast bays and waterways, reluctantly giving up this passion only when his eyesight failed him. He perpetually had a project in development, usually a home or yard renovation. Travel and adventure with his family were very important to him and over the years that included campers, motorhomes, and lakeside/ beachside vacation homes for all to enjoy.  He was an enthusiastic student of history and to the delight (sometimes chagrin) of family and friends, would share his fascination. Family events were not complete without his entertaining storytelling (even in the re-telling) and he was a presence at any gathering. He had a generous spirit and above all else cherished family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother Leslie, sister Dorothy and brother-in-law Harry, and son-in-law Victor.  Left to cherish his memory are his wife Peg, sister Betty Lou (Gene), sons Bob and Dan (Laura), daughters Karen (Tom) and Lynne (Jon), beloved granddaughters and grandsons-in-law Jenny (Clayton), Dawn (Andrew), Elizabeth (Dallas) and Jacque (Colin), treasured great-grandchildren Jackson, Lily, Camden, Delaney and Wolf, and countless friends and relatives. Bob will be long remembered, sincerely honored, and deeply missed.

Due to current world circumstances, there will be no public memorial service.  If you wish to share memories/condolences, please do so here: https://www.colonialfuneralhome.com/

In lieu of flowers, please consider a remembrance donation to either The American Heart Association or The American Cancer Society.