Robert Turnage Monk Jr.

1948 - 2026

Robert Turnage Monk, Jr. Morehead City - Mr. Robert Turnage Monk, Jr. (Bob) died Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern following a brief illness. He was 78. Son of the late Robert Turnage Monk and Frances Barrett Joyner, Bob was a native of Farmville, but he called Morehead City his home. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School in Virginia in the class of 1966 and received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Duke University in 1970. Following his graduation from Duke, he briefly served as a traditional guard member in the Army National Guard. Bob dedicated his career to the tobacco processing company founded by his grandfather in 1907, A.C. Monk and Company, Inc. Throughout his tenure, he helped navigate the company through numerous mergers and acquisitions. He retired in 1997 as Executive Vice President and Director of what was then DIMON International, known today as Alliance One International. Bob's generosity was evident from his philanthropic support of local educational institutions, historic preservation organizations, and animal shelters, just to name a few. He also quietly sought out ways to help those in his orbit when they were down on their luck or needed a little support. If you were a friend of Bob, and you needed help, Bob saw it, and Bob helped.

Bob was a voracious learner- once he set upon an interest, he quickly became engrossed in researching and reading about the topic. Over the course of his retirement, his hobbies included collecting model boats, computer networking, building computers, boating, fishing, collecting art, and restoring classic cars with his friend, Jimmy Amspacher. He loved the coast of eastern North Carolina, and being near the water was where he felt most at peace.

Bob is survived by his wife of 33 years, Suellen Grimes Monk of Morehead City, and his sister, Emily Monk Davidson of Farmville. Surviving children include son Robert T. Monk, III, of Raleigh; son George Taylor Grimes of Robersonville and his wife, Jamie; son Paul David Grimes of Farmville and his wife, Erin; and daughter Piper Monk Booher of Baltimore. Surviving grandchildren include Lance Hite Smithwick of Farmville; Robert Turnage Monk, IV, of Raleigh; Judith Anderson Monk of Raleigh; Mason Thomas Grimes of Robersonville; Ann Barrett Monk of Raleigh; Lola Camille Grimes of Farmville; and Georgia Faith Grimes of Robersonville. He also left behind his loyal labrador companion, Jessie.

The family will receive friends at the Farmville Funeral Home on the evening of Tuesday, March 24, from 6pm until 8pm. Funeral services will be held at Farmville United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 25 at 2pm. Interment will follow at Hollywood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, PO Box 556, Harkers Island, NC, 28531.

Online condolences may be made at www.farmvillefh.com.