Robert G. Davis

Robert G. Davis, 67, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2011. A Newport News native, he spent his childhood in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., but had lived in Hampton since 1951.
Robert is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Davis of Hampton; daughters, Jennifer Bartlome (Charlie) of Newport News and Janet Davis (Scott) of Gloucester; sons, John Davis (Heidi) of 29 Palms, Calif., and Jarrod Davis (Fatima) of Hampton; and six grandchildren, Jessica Coston, Samantha and Bryce Bartlome, Christian, Ashley, and Timothy Davis. He also leaves behind his stepmother, Millie Davis of Hampton; stepbrothers, Joe Skeps and children, Susan and Sarah of Ogden, Utah, and Robert Skeps (Sheila) and children, Christy and Tara and Tara's son, Cody, all of Hampton; and nieces, Marjorie Hall of Hampton, Lori Elwell of Jacksonville, Fla., Vanessa Norris of New Kent County, and Kris Niemotka of Poquoson.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Garland and Gretchen Davis; sister, Rebecca Hall; brother, Jan Davis; and nephew, Glen Hall Jr.
After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1966, Robert worked as a sheet metal mechanic at Fort Monroe, Va., for 15 years. He retired from government service in 1995 and then continued to serve his community, working for Hampton City Schools as a bus driver (1996–2000) and as a food courier (2008–10). Most recently, he was a school bus driver for Newport News City Schools. He loved working with children and ensuring their safety to and from school.
A devoted, loving, and quintessential family man, Robert's greatest pleasure was spending time with his wife and their children and grandchildren. He especially enjoyed family breakfasts at Cracker Barrel restaurant and any chance to tell a story and to make everyone laugh. His baritone voice, seemingly gruff demeanor, and obvious strength made his own laughter that much more memorable.
Widely known as an accomplished handyman, Robert worked extensively to remodel his Buckroe home, customizing it to accommodate each phase of his family's life. He and Cindy often and miraculously made room for return visits from kids and grandkids whenever the need arose-even after they had tailored the house for themselves as empty nesters.
Robert had been a devout member of Northside Christian Church since the mid 1950s and of its Philothean Sunday School class, where he alternately served as vice president and president.
He will be deeply missed by those who loved him.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, January 8, at Northside Christian Church, 1300 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown, Va., with arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Hampton.