Robert Delano

Robert B. Delano, 93, of Warsaw died on December 5, 2017. He is survived by his daughter, Susan DelanoGouldin and husband, Richard W. Gouldin, Jr. of Warsaw; his son, Robert B. "Chip" Delano, Jr. and wife, Mary Ann Delano of Richmond; four grandsons, Richard Gouldin (Ellyn), Walton Gouldin (Katie), Philip Delano and John Delano and a great-grandson, Nicholas Anthony Gouldin. He was predeceased by his devoted wife of 67 years, Martha Webb Delano; his parents, Randolph O. Delano and Bernice Barnes Delano; and his brother, Marion W. Delano (Nancy).
Mr. Delano was born at Wellford's Wharf in Richmond County on July 8, 1924. He graduated in 1941 from Warsaw High School. After his 1944 graduation from Virginia Tech, like so many men of America's Greatest Generation, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army Calvary serving in China-India-Burma during WWII. Following the war, he served as an assistant county agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service for Prince George, Dinwiddie and Nottoway counties. In 1947 he returned to his native Northern Neck, assumed the management of his beloved ancestral farm, Level Green, and began a long career first as a dairy farmer and later as a grain farmer. 
In 1955 he helped organize the Richmond County Farm Bureau and served for two years as its charter president. From 1959-1980 he served on the board of directors of the Virginia Farm Bureau. In 1962 he was elected president of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its eight affiliates and served in that capacity until 1980 and again from 1986-1988. He was elected to the board of directors of the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and served for five years as its president. In 1967, he was elected to the board of directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation ("AFBF") and from 1975-1980 served as its vice president. In 1980 he was elected and served for six years as the president of the AFBF, which was at that time the world's largest agricultural organization representing over 3.3 million farm families. 
He served on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors from 1994-1998. He was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1985, received a Distinguished Service Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1987, received Virginia Tech's Distinguished Achievement Award in 1991, was inducted into the John N. Dalton Society of the Friends of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine for his long-standing support of that college in 1997, received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2000, was inducted into Virginia Tech's William Preston Society in 2002, and served as its president from 2008-2010. Additionally he served as a member of Hokies for Higher Education, the Veterinary Medicine Citizens Committee. He served as president of the Tide Neck VPI & SU Alumni Association.
He also made significant contributions to his state and the community in which he lived by serving on many boards. He served on the Board of Directors of Northern Neck State Bank. He was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and a life-long member of Warsaw Baptist Church. 
A memorial service will be held at Warsaw Baptist Church, 226 Main Street, Warsaw, on December 27, 2017 at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall. Interment will be private.
Special appreciation to the nurses, staff, and administration at the Orchard in Warsaw, Virginia, who provided loving care for him during the last years of his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Warsaw Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 576, Warsaw, Virginia 22572.