Robert Emory Markwood was born November 16, 1932, in Macon, Georgia. He was the fifth of seven children of Frank and Mary Rodes Markwood. When Bob was still a young child, the family returned to Charlottesville, Virginia. He was raised by his Aunt, Elizabeth Markwood after the death of his parents when he was about five years old. He grew up in Charlottesville and attended the Miller School, then received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree 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, Virginia, 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. From 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; his children, Mark (Caral) Markwood and Sherrie (Bob) Brown; grandsons, Alex (Jena) Brown and Nate (Britany) Brown; as well as his 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 at www.apdaparkinson.org.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
March 25, 2016
Wayne Bjerregaard
I served Bob's project engineering team when he was the Project Engineering Manager of this group back in the late 70's, as a Senior Technical Recruiter. He was a man of his word, and exhibited a refined dry wit. As corroborated by others, he cared deeply about the people he recruited and developed as a Manager. The VPI nd NC State folks would sometimes kid him about UVA as an engineering school, and he'd laugh, argue back...and always take the kidding in good grace. The "Bullet Bob" may come from a knack for being very straightforward and attuned to getting things done...now vs. later. I always could rely on him for prompt and thorough feedback on prospective employees that we were interviewing. Bob was a conscientious and compassionate man with a great sense of humor.
October 6, 2015
Ed Wooldridge
Madeline, I was sorry to learn of Bob's passing. I had great respect for Bob and enjoyed working with him as one of "Markwood's Marauders". My condolences to you and family.
October 4, 2015
Dear Madeline:
You may not remember me, although we have met some years ago.
Bob and I were both from Charlottesville and were very good friends at U. Va.
I noted his passing today when reading the Richmond Times Dispatch.
I was very sorry to learn of it and sorry that his last years were not pleasant.
I wish you and the family the very best.
Jerry Hamm
Irvington, Va.
October 4, 2015
Rush Morrison
I am sorry to hear of Mr. Markwood's passing, and of the fact that his illness did not allow him to have the quality of retired life he deserved.
I was fortunate to have worked for Bob in the early 1970's at Philip Morris. I learned a lot from him and had the utmost respect for him as a supervisor, as an engineer, and as a person. He was very supportive and was a friend as well as a boss.
Please accept my condolences for your loss.
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