Ret. Lt. Col. Robert Alexander Steele

1938 - 2013

Ret. Lt. Col. Robert Alexander Steele, 75, of Woodlawn went to Heaven from his home with his loving family surrounding him on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013.
He was born June 2, 1938, in Hillsville to the late James William and Dorine Farmer Steele.
In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by an infant brother, Larry Darwin Steele; two uncles, Paul Steele and aunt Minnie and Roscoe Steele and aunt Becky; mother-in-law, Clora Evelyn Melton Harmon; four uncles, Oley and Clifford Farmer and Aunt Larma, Ray Farmer and Aunt Ethel and Harry Farmer and Aunt Bernise; cousin, Barbara Steele Evers; grandparents, Sterling and Alice Worrell Farmer and James and Charlotte Dalton Steele.
"Bob" graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1956. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics from Emory and Henry College in 1961 and M.S. degree from the University of Southern California in 1971. After completing his education at Emory and Henry, he entered the Air Force and was commissioned in 1961 at Lakeland AFB Texas. Bob served for 20 years in communications and earned the rank of Lt. Col.
Along with a former WWII WASP, Emily Gile, he co-founded Twin County Chapter 1426 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, serving as president for several years and treasurer. He was one of the pilots who helped fly over 1,200 children at Young Eagle rallies in the community for six years. He was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and served as the AOPA representative to Twin County Airport.
Survivors include his beloved family, wife of 49 ¾ years, Shirley Jeanne (Jeannie) Harmon Steele of Woodlawn; two sons, Robert Alexander Steele Jr. of Venice, Calif., and William Randall Steele and daughter-in-law, Stacey Wolff Steele of Stephens City, Va.; two grandchildren, Jacob Robert and Hannah Katherine; one brother, James Randolph Steele and sister-in-law, Carol Davis Steele of Fredericksburg, Va.; niece, Kristin Steele Barber and husband, Chris and great-nephews, Andrew and Michael Barber; great-niece Kayleigh of Gilbert, Ariz.; an aunt, Nina Farmer of Raleigh, N.C., and cousins Marcelle Hooks and her husband, Al and family of Raleigh, N.C., Richard Farmer and wife, Gail and family of Hampstead, N.C., Nancy Sharp and husband, Ted and family of Lake Alfred, Fla., Linda Gallimore Haney and family of Kirkwood, Pa., Chrissy Steele Mikalaski and husband, Craig and family of Silver Spring, Md., Stephanie Evers and family of Silver Spring, Md., Stephen Evers and family of Centerville, Va.; sister-in-law, Sandra Harmon Peters and husband, David of Millboro, Va.; niece, Candicek Peters Dupoise and her daughter, Katherine Dupoise of Millboro, Va.; nephew, Christopher Peters of Christiansburg, Va.; nephew, Curtis Cavey and family of Mount Airy, Md.; niece, Twila Cavey and family of Ellicot City, Md.; Lester Cavey of Falls Church, Va.; and several other nieces and nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind a host of wonderfully awesome loving and caring friends.
A funeral service will be held today, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, at Woodlawn United Methodist Church beginning at 2 p.m. The Rev. Terri Johnson Gregory and the Rev. Rich Mullan will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by Hillsville VFW Post #1115. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 12:30 until service time, 2 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Woodlawn United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 75, Woodlawn, Va. 24381; or the Bob Steele Scholarship Fund with the Woodlawn Ruritan Club, c/o Treasurer Bonnie Choate, 289 Windsor Road, Woodlawn, Va. 24381; or the EAA Chapter 1426 Emily Gile Scholarship Fund, c/o Treasurer Nancy Beasley, 254 Lyons Circle, Hillsville, Va. 24343; or the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, 333 Mamaroneck Ave #492, White Plains, N.Y. 10605.
Twin County Funerals is serving the Steele family.
Online condolences can be made at www.twincountyfunerals.com.