Robert Allen Gerrard

Bob Gerrard, 72, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 20, 2017, at the Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital, with his wife and children by his side. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he was raised in Mount Prospect, Illinois, attended Northwestern University, and spent most of his adult life in Charlotte and Mooresville, North Carolina. 

Bob joined Gerrard and Associates as a manufacturer’s representative with his father, Rolly, in 1973.  He continued growing the business through June of 2016 when his son, David, took over the family business.

Bob was a fun-loving, jovial man who always had a good story to tell and a philosophical observation about “the end of the day” to share.  He was dubbed “the Great Orb” by his children (the “Orblets”).  In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing, golfing, reading non-fiction (especially American History and religious studies), traveling, and wine-tasting.  He was a history buff and passionate about life-long learning and The Great Courses.

Bob was an adoring husband and best friend to his wife of 44 years, Jackie, and loving father, proud of his four children: Kimberly Raber (Jeff) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nancy O’Toole (John) of Cleveland, Ohio, David Gerrard (Stacy) of Mooresville, North Carolina, and Leslie (Matt Hassman) of Harrisonburg, Virginia.   He was a doting grandfather to his ten grandchildren: Holly and Alex Woodworth, Cyreesa, Michael, and Cody Raber, Grace, Michael, and Simon O’Toole, Anna Gerrard, and Jack Hassman, and relished in his new role as great-grandfather to Gwenevere Woodworth.

Bob is also survived by his brother, Edward Gerrard and his wife Donna, of Hickory, North Carolina, his foster sister Beth Squires and her husband Jimmy of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as his many nieces, nephews, and countless other friends.

Formal services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on September 3, 2017at the Meredith Chapel in Sunnyside Community.  The family will be available to receive out of town visitors from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Narthex.    Memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to the Sunnyside Fellowship Fund, c/o Meredith Chapel, 3935 Sunnyside Drive, Suite A, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.