Robert Joseph "Bob" McKay

1943 - 2024

MCKAY, Robert Joseph "Bob", 80, resident of Dinwiddie, VA, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Born in Hyde Park, MA, on August 20, 1943, Bob was the son of the late Donald B. McKay and Margaret H. McKay; and was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret A. Cahill; and his brother, Donnie B. McKay. In 1950, the McKay family moved from Baltimore, MD to Hopewell, VA, where Bob enrolled at St. James School as a first grader. A loving husband, beloved father, and doting grandfather, Bob was a graduate of St. Joseph's High School and the Richmond Professional Institute "RPI" (now Virginia Commonwealth University "VCU") where he received his bachelor's degree in retailing. Following his graduation from RPI, he entered military service attending Transportation Officer Candidate School at Ft. Eustis, VA, and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant. During his time stationed in South Korea, Bob was made a First Lieutenant in the 98th Transportation Company within the 202D Transportation Battalion. After completion of active duty service, Bob served in a local Army reserve unit and received a master's degree in distributive education from VCU. He was a member of the Pi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. Bob was President/Owner of McKay Hardware, Inc. in Hopewell, VA, for close to 50 years. McKay Hardware, Inc. was started by his father in 1957, and has been at its present location on S 15th Avenue since 1961. Known for trying to please every customer, Bob had an amazing ability to find any item in a hardware store jam-packed with inventory. He was a devoted Catholic and supporter of the local Catholic church community. His survivors include his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane W. McKay; two sisters, Arlene M. FitzGerald (Ben) and Glenna A. Pruitt (Tom); his three children, Christopher T. McKay (Joanne), John D. McKay (Anna), and Shannon A. McKay (George); and six grandchildren, Isabelle, Callan, Adelaine, Ewan, Eleanor, and Edmund; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. James Catholic Church, Hopewell, VA. Internment, with military honors, will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Petersburg, VA. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to KOVAR (A Virginia Knights of Columbus Charity Serving People with Intellectual Disabilities). Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.