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Robert B. Bob Storms finished the race and received his reward in Heaven on March 12, 2015 at the age of 78. Bob loved fried oysters smothered in Tabasco sauce, fishing, duck carving, LSU football, the St. Louis Cardinals, Jeopardy, reading, cuddling grandchildren, and desserts. Not necessarily in that order. He hated peas and carrots, commercials, and badly written obituaries. Not necessarily in that order. Bob was also a disorganized control freak. As such, he wrote his own obituary, but we have no idea where he put it. We hope this does you justice, Bob.
Bob was born in Sandy Hook, New Jersey on November 15, 1936 to George Francis Storms and Sarah Isabel Patterson Storms. Bob grew up outside of Alexandria, Louisiana, helping run the family business, The Soda Shop. By the age of 9, Bob knew the true meaning of customer service and could make any item on the restaurant’s fountain menu. One of Bob’s most treasured memories was serving the entire LSU football team at the Soda Shop when he was 11 years old. Bob was an accomplished high school athlete and musician, and a walk-on for the track and field team at Louisiana Tech University.
Bob married Claudia Ann Roach in 1958. Together they made a life for the next 56 years, moving to Virginia Beach in 1964, when Bob was stationed in Norfolk with the Navy.
Bob graduated from Louisiana Tech and was commissioned into the US Navy in 1959. His first tour of duty, Honolulu, Hawaii, was the start of a 20-year stint that allowed Bob to see the world, if not from the helm of a ship.
Bob’s naval career included a tour in Vietnam where he served as USN advisor on a South Vietnamese river boat, endured the Tet Offensive, and was awarded the Bronze Star with V. Bob later served as the Executive Officer on the USS Wood County and USS Trenton, and earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
After retiring from the Navy in 1979, Bob worked as a nuclear recruiter with Mid-Atlantic Power Services. His last job in the Navy had been as a retention officer, and he found his passion in helping others find their passion. Bob later worked with the Virginia Employment Commission, and additionally taught classes for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, where he was a sought-after trainer.
Throughout his life, Bob had a heart for service. He headed up the PTA, coached little league football, and led countless committees at church. Bob and Claudia were among the founding members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where Bob served in every capacity imaginable. While there, Bob joined the Catholic charismatic movement and started his personal walk with Jesus Christ.
Upon retiring, Bob did not rest. He coached track and field at St. John the Apostle Catholic School, served on the school’s board of directors, and taught many a student what the napkin in their lunchbox was meant for. Bob also dedicated untold hours of service to the Church of the Ascension and the Knights of Columbus. He was the core strength in the Mother Teresa of Calcutta chapter, spearheading efforts that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He served as Grand Knight and was later a 4th Degree Knight.
Rest Easy Bob, we have the watch.
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