Robert Slaughter

Robert Gene Slaughter CURRITUCK - Robert Gene Slaughter, 72, went to be with his Lord Sept. 9, 2008, in his home with his family by his side. He was an inspiration to so many who were with him during his 8-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patti Bullock Slaughter. His family was his joy. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Catherine Hope Slaughter; his father, Dorsey R. Slaughter; and four sons, Robert "Rob" II of Virginia Beach, Linwood "Lin" and wife Tricia of Greensboro, N.C., Kenneth "Trooper" and wife Beth of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Jonathan "Jon" and wife Donna of Greensboro; grandsons, Stephen of Orlando, Fla., Chris of the U.S. Army, Italy, Sterling of Chesapeake, James of Mount Pleasant, Jordan of Greensboro; granddaughters, Stephanie Abate and husband Walter of Chesapeake, Jennifer and Elizabeth of Mount Pleasant; great-grandchildren, Stacey and Tyler Abate; brother, retired U.S. Army Maj. Samuel "Sam" Slaughter and wife Carol of Tampa, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Kent (Lorraine) and Karl (Patricia) Saunders; three nephews and two nieces. He was born in Pitt County, North Carolina, and raised in Portsmouth. He graduated from Cradock High School, Class of 1954 and attended William and Mary Extension (ODU). He was an apprentice patternmaker in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, served 23 years in the U.S. Army retiring at Fort Monroe, Va., in 1977 with the rank of Major (field artillery). After this "first" retirement, he owned and operated Olde Virginia Cabinets, Moyock Hardware and was a kitchen and bath designer and consultant in the Tidewater area and Outer Banks of North Carolina. His Army career included serving with the Virginia National Guard (Grimes Battery), assignments in Korea, Germany (Pershing Missile Battery Commander), Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Meade, Md., Fort Benning, Ga., (Airborne Trooper), Fort Sill, Okla., Redstone Arsenal, Ala., Fort Riley, Kan., and two combat tours in Vietnam where he received numerous awards and decorations which included the Bronze Star. He will be remembered especially for his love and commitment to his family, his positive influence upon so many because of the high standards he set, his traditional values, strong character, principles and work ethic and also for his devotion to his "buddy," Leo, the family English Springer Spaniel. His family is so appreciative for the care he received during his long illness from Drs. Gumpert, Rascona, St. Clair and others and the staff at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, and also a special thank you to Debbie, Grace, Gloria, Joyce and others with Albemarle Hospice and Medi Home Care in Elizabeth City, N.C. The family invites friends and relatives to join them at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, from noon until 1:30 p.m. Saturday prior to the graveside service with military honors, at Olive Branch Cemetery. The Rev. Frank Thigpen, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, South Mills, N.C., a caring neighbor and friend, will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Albemarle Hospice, P.O. Box 189, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 or to Moyock Baptist Church, P.O. Box 459, Moyock, NC 27958. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.