Robert Edward Harshbarger

November 7, 1927 ~ July 8, 2010 Robert Edward Harshbarger, of Daleville, Va., passed away on Thursday, July 8, 2010, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born in Covington, Va., to the late Melvyn Braxton and Thelma Blake Harshbarger, direct descendents of one of the original families of the Roanoke Valley from the 1750's.
He is survived by his wife, Dora Kellermann Harshbarger, of Daleville, Va.; his daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn Ann and James Lee Overfelt; grandson, James Nicholas Overfelt, of Holly Springs, N.C.; his daughter-in-law, Karen Lampert Harshbarger; grandson, Grant Michael Harshbarger, of Herndon, Va.; his sister and brother-in-law, Sue Harshbarger and Robert E. Bagnoli, of Daleville, Va.; sister-in-law, Ann Kellermann Lindahl, of Akron, Ohio; niece, Melissa West Beck; nephews, Cameron West, Keith West, Norman Lindahl and Carl Lindahl; and cousin, James Allen and wife, Linda Milton, of Hollins, Va.
Mr. Harshbarger is proceeded in death by his father, Melvyn Braxton Harshbarger; mother, Thelma Blake Harshbarger; sisters, Jane Harshbarger Bryan and Barbara Harshbarger West; and son, David Alan Harshbarger.
Mr. Harshbarger grew up in Roanoke, Va., and was a graduate of Jefferson High School; BS in Math and Physics from Roanoke College, Salem, Va.; Masters Degree in Mathematics from American University, Washington, D.C.; distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.; and Masters Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Prior to completion of his college degree at Roanoke College, he served in the Army Air Corp during World War II as a cryptographer in the Philippines. Upon his arrival home, he married Dora Kathryn Kellerman, of Roanoke, Va., on June 4, 1949. After graduation he worked for the United States Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren, Va., and eventually acquired a position with the National Military Command System Support Center in the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., from 1962 until he retired from civil service in 1982. During his career at the Pentagon he received the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Civilian Award, the highest civilian award given in the Department of Defense.
Robert and Dora were avid square dancers and were very instrumental in the progression of Square Dancing not only in the Washington, D.C., area but also in the Fincastle and Roanoke area; also promoting square dancing at the national level.
Robert was a volunteer at the Fincastle Courthouse from 1995 to 2008 assisting in the data entry of various court records starting from the 1700's into a computerized application to help simplify the research process for both the court and the public.
Immediate family visitation will be held on Sunday, July 11, 2010, from 6 to 7 p.m. and friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at noon on Monday, July 12, 2010, at Oakey's North Chapel with interment to follow at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem, Va. The Rev. David J. Rochford III will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the American Heart Association and to Alzheimer's Research. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel, 540-362-1237.