Robert F. Shore

1944 - 2017

Robert F. Shore

Norfolk - Robert F. Shore

He could fix a broken washing machine or a kid's broken heart. He could fix just about anything.

Bob Shore died January 12, 2017, at age 73, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leaving those who loved him asking, "Who's going to help me now?"

Bob will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. on Nov. 16 at 11am.

Most of those closest called him by one name BobShore. He was born to John and Frances Shore and raised on a small farm in Tennessee. He lived the values he learned growing up. Bob was principled, fiercely loyal, caring, funny, generous with his time and money. He loved to tell tall tales, but he always told the truth after his grandmother told him, "Bob, you don't have a good enough memory to lie."

After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Liberals Arts degree and a major in chemistry, he enlisted in the Navy, where he became a helicopter pilot.

Bob accrued a drawer full of medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, but he seldom talked of his time in Vietnam. He did however enjoy recounting the story of flying supplies to the Philippines to help rebuild an orphanage.

He and Martha raised two daughters of their own and many claiming to be "the third Shore daughter."

After living in six states and Sicily, Bob settled down in Norfolk as an engineer with Astro Pak of Chesapeake. He traveled extensively for Astro Pak and loved challenges that his work provided.

Other than his family and friends, Bob loved helping. Somehow he found time to mow neighbors' lawns, help disabled motorists get back on the road or pump out a friend's basement after a flood. No wonder at the end of many a day, he would drawl, "I feel like I've been ridden hard and put up wet."

Bob was a steadfast member of the Universalist Unitarian Church in Norfolk and at the Southeast Universalist Unitarian Summer Institute (SUUSI). He was the guy listening to your problems or lugging your bags to a dorm room. As one attendee said, "He made you feel safe. No matter what was happening or what you were facing, BobShore would make things all right."

Bob is survived by Martha, his wife of 48 years; two daughters, Staci Wright (Pamela) of Colorado and Jennifer (Jiffy) Shore (Tom McKew) of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren Brittany Miller and Jackson McKew; great-grandson, Matthew Miller; siblings, Roger Shore (Emily), Bill Shore (Emily) and Ina Carol Osborn(Robert) of Tennessee; seven nieces and nephews.