Robert M. Luke, Jr.

Robert Martin “Bob” Luke, Jr. passed from this world into heaven on September 29, 2025, after a year of declining health. For the past week, Bob was in the care of MSA Hospice, whose team showed compassion and attention to him and to the family.

Bob was born the third and last child to Robert M. Luke, Sr. and Waldean Sarah Luke. Robert Sr. was a career Air Force man, so the family lived all over the world during most of Bob’s growing up years. Bob especially enjoyed telling stories of the times spent in Germany, Libya, and South Dakota, and he also had fond memories of periods spent in South Georgia when his dad was deployed to areas where families couldn’t go.

Bob studied industrial engineering at Georgia Southern University and then moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked for the telephone company as a line worker. He married Kathy Santmyer and moved to Savannah, Ga., where they began raising their two children, Jocelyn and Trey. Bob worked for ROLM installing communication systems, then later accepted a position with IBM in Atlanta. While his marriage to Kathy ended, Bob remained close to his former in-laws and shared custody of the kids with his former wife.

On March 4, 1988, by chance and through a mutual friend, Bob met Kimberly Farris. This was the beginning of their loving relationship and the two were married on November 26, 1988. Bob continued with IBM as a network analyst, and Kim worked in law firm team recruitment until their first daughter Hannah Farris was born. A second daughter, Faith Cassidy, arrived 17 months later, and soon afterwards the family moved to Abingdon where Kim joined her family business. Two more daughters, Haley Christian and Adriana Sarah, made their family complete.

In Abingdon, Bob worked as a project manager with Byrd & Goff Construction, later taking the leap and starting his own company, Preferred Construction. He specialized in small projects like decks, remodels and additions, and he usually had a small crew –just him and one younger guy who could help with the heavy lifting! Through the years, Bob mentored several young men, teaching them both carpentry skills and life lessons. Many families in our community experienced the meticulous work performed by Bob and his crew, projects that stand as living reminders of his craftsmanship.

Bob came to a personal relationship with Jesus in 1997 after attending the Walk to Emmaus, and he later enjoyed serving as a team member and director on subsequent Emmaus weekends. Bob walked out his faith in his own quiet way, but one area in which he was bold was his prayer life. Even though his earlier life had been one of trauma and mistakes, Bob was determined to not let all of that define him – he was a child of God.

After retiring from construction work, Bob went to work for one of Kim’s family businesses, Faithful Pets Cremation. In 2020, Kim and Bob purchased the business from her family and were later joined by their daughter Haley and her husband Nathan, who manage the business today. Bob was passionate about serving pet families with compassion and built strong relationships with local veterinarians and individuals.

The final few years of Bob’s life were filled with adventurous travels with Kim – England, Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey and most of the Caribbean. Bob loved cruises and all-inclusive resorts, and he and Kim often ventured to places that were new to them. His declining health made it difficult to travel much this past year, but he still dreamed of exploring more national parks and chasing trains in Pennsylvania.

Ah, trains…Bob was a fan of railroading from early childhood, which included real trains and model trains, N-scale to be exact. Some of his and Kim’s first dates were spent sitting in the Atlanta rail yards waiting for trains to come. Kim never understood all the signal lights and engine paint schemes, but she learned how to feign enthusiasm to make Bob happy.

Bob also loved music, mostly rock-and-roll and jam bands. Kim’s taste in music was a bit different, so Bob tried to make sure his kids enjoyed the same music by controlling the radio and YouTube videos. 

Golfing became a hobby that Bob practiced sporadically, yet he traveled with his golfing buddies for the past 27 years on an annual fall trip to Kentucky. That trip, held the second weekend of October, brought him longtime friends and many great stories.

Bob’s wit, his patience, and his desire to teach skills to others were defining characteristics of a man who embraced life’s challenges with grace. He loved all six of his children fiercely, building unique relationships with each of them and praying for them daily.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Roger and Linda, and his best friend John Beitz.

Bob’s wife of 37 years, Kim Farris-Luke, survives him, as do his children: Jocelyn Merkel and husband David; Trey Luke and wife Erin, and his children Kaylyn Mckenzie, Lakelyn, Caleb, Braelyn, Jocelyn and Cole; Farris Blackson and husband Jordan, and their children Luca and Mila; Faith Luke; Haley Magstadt and husband Nathan, and their children Harrison and Corinne; and Adriana Henson and husband Matt. He is also survived by his beloved gentle giant of a dog, Ryder.

We will gather to celebrate Bob’s life at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service; the service will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person. Special friend Justin Harris and son-in-law Jordan Blackson will officiate. The family will visit with friends and family from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. Bob will be cremated following the service, and a private burial will be held in the spring. Because Bob was a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy, please dress comfortably for the service. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Bob may be made to one of the following: WheelchairFoundation.org (donate in memory and indicate it is for Rotary District 7570 Wheelchair Project) or Simple Rhythms, P.O. Box 16128, Bristol, VA 24209