Robert Brooks "Bobby" Altizer Sr.

ALTIZER, Robert Brooks "Bobby", Sr., passed away on Sunday, September 4, 2022. He fought his battle with pancreatic cancer with courage and strength. We will always be grateful for the unwavering support of Froedtert Center for Advanced Care, specifically, Dr. Douglas Evans, Dr. William Rilling, Dr. Susan Tsai, the 12th Floor Nursing and all of their supporting staff and Kathy's House in Milwaukee, Wis.

Bobby was preceded in death by his brother, Hubert Keith Altizer; sister, Mary Sue Peters; and his parents, Hubert Brooks and Belva Helen Altizer.

He is survived by his wife, Tina Altizer; sons, Brooks Altizer (Whitney), and Cort Meade; daughters, Cary Petrusek (Brett), Molly Altizer, Samantha Altizer, Kameron Altizer, Elizabeth Meade and Jensen Meade; and his grandchildren, Asa Altizer, Ezekiel Altizer, Noah Petrusek, Luca Petrusek, Francesca Petrusek and Madeline Altizer. He is also survived by siblings, Johnny Altizer (Betsy), Janis Humphrey and Jimmy Altizer (Teresa); as well as a host of extended family.

The fourth of five children, Bobby was born in Richlands, Va., on December 10, 1950. By then, eight generations of Altizers had been born, raised and lived in Southwest Virginia, including Bobby's grandfather, William Irby, who operated a country store at the foot of Shortt Gap Mountain. His father, Hubert, mined coal and helped out with the store. Through a twist of fate, his father was able to realize his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot. In the early days of the FAA, the old man would buzz the family home in Richlands at a hundred feet just to say "HI!" Watching his father become a pilot was a pivotal moment in Bobby's young life; as his father frequently emphasized that, no matter what your circumstances were in life, you could accomplish anything.

Bobby's parents stressed the importance of education in achieving one's goals. So, when he graduated from Richlands High School in 1969, he headed off to Virginia Tech in the fall. His best friend from grade school, Mike Combs, also attended and together they concocted a plan to start the Virginia Tech chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Bobby became first scroll and remained involved with the chapter over the years. From an early age, Bobby was fascinated in government, public policy and elections; and, like his father and grandfathers before him, he was a staunch Republican. During his senior year in high school, he established a Teenage Republican Club and spent several summers away from college in Washington, D.C. working for various election campaigns. Bobby received both his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Virginia Tech. Upon graduating, he attended T.C. Williams's Law School at the University of Richmond, where he would earn his J.D. in 1977.

Wanting to return to his roots in Southwest Virginia, Bobby took a job at the local law firm Gillespie, Gillespie & Hart, in Tazewell, Va., where he credited his mentors, Harris Hart II, Carl C. Gillespie Sr. and Carl C. Gillespie Jr. for teaching him skills that made him a great attorney. He loved what he did; zealously defending his clients in a law practice that spanned over 40 years. At the time of his death, he was a senior partner at Gillespie, Hart, Altizer, & Whitesell, P.C. in Tazewell, Virginia.

Bobby gave back as well, formerly serving as President of the Virginia State Bar, Director of the Tazewell Area Chamber of Commerce, President of the Tazewell County Human Services Board, President of the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, Director of the Virginia Tech Foundation, Director and President of Tazewell Little League Baseball, and also as an elder at Tazewell Presbyterian Church. He also loved to coach his kids and their friends in several sports.

Bobby was a high-energy, passionate individual. He simply loved life, lived it to the fullest and could always be counted on for a good time. He loved his wife, Tina, so much. She was with whom he shared his world and she was there with him to the end. He loved his family; and he loved his HOKIES, especially Virginia Tech football. His heaven: GAME DAY!

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 2 p.m. at the Hurst Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va. A visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m.

In lieu of sending flowers, contributions can be made to the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund and/or Kathy's House of Milwaukee, Wis. and to fund pancreatic cancer research with the We Care Fund.

Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.