Robert Donald Rader, 66, of Staunton passed away Friday, March 2, 2012. Bob was born at the family home in Coral, Michigan, on October 21, 1945, the second son of William Austin and June LaMoine (Hudnut) Rader.
Having cultivated an interest in all things around him including earning the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout, Bob became a most creative story teller and a lover of music. Bob earned his BA in history at the University of Michigan where he was in the marching band. In addition, he achieved his teaching certification, graduating in time to be a draftee of the U.S. Army. He enlisted, becoming an instructor at the U.S. Army Signal Center and School in New Jersey and later in Germany. Upon discharge, he began his public teaching career for the Dorchester County (Maryland) School system where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Rebecca Dalton. They married on March 25, 1972 in Cambridge, Maryland. Bob went on to earn his MA in History from Salisbury State University and Secondary Education/Administrators Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. He retired after 28 years as a teacher, Coach, Vice Principal, and Supervisor of Operations, Construction, Capital Expenditures and High School Social Studies.
Space only allows for a superficial enumeration of a few of his many deeds. Bob was curious about and loved learning about everything, most especially travel, gardening on "the Farm" with family and friends, and genealogy. He traversed the country, mastering the roads with his beloved wife and puppy in their RV, always planning stops to visit with, help and care for parents and friends. Along the way, he worked as a Historical Interpreter at the Museum of American Frontier Culture and as a Concessionaire at Disney World. It would be difficult to find any one more inclined to scatter seeds of kindness in a more modest and unobtrusive way, helping to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Virginia and Mississippi. He also volunteered as a pharmacy technician and an eligibility worker at the Augusta Regional Free Clinic and volunteered as a Medicare counselor. Family genealogy was a passion, always searching and finding facts, not only for his family but any others who asked questions. Best at giving, at loving, at serving, at kindness, at compassion, at living - always with a smile, a joke and a kind word; he took life for a ride. He has left a legacy. He has bequeathed to us the memories and contributions of a life dedicated to family, work, and the pursuit of excellence.
He is survived by his loving wife, Becky, of Staunton, and cherished puppy, Casey; his brother Richard of Washington, DC; brother John and sister-in-law Shellie of Alto, Michigan; sister Diana of Mint Spring. He will be greatly missed by his nephews and nieces, Adam & Jessie Rader of Grand Rapids, MI; Leslie Rader & Jake DeeWaard of Cedar Springs, MI; Wendy and Jason Bazilian of San Diego, CA; Kristin and Aaron Leikam with grandnephew Tanner and grandniece Gabriela of Kapaa, Kauai; Bill Rader of Baltimore, MD; Paul Rader and James Rader of Washington, DC.
Enormous gratitude and appreciation are extended to Stuarts Draft Family Practice, the Staff of the Cranial Base Program at the University of Michigan, HOPE at Augusta Health and Hospice of the Shenandoah team – Carol, Pam, Melissa, Sharon, Kathy, Lynn and Mark.
A gathering of friends in the area to honor his memory will be Saturday, March 10 from 2-4pm at Charlton and Groom Funeral Home, 961 Goose Creek Road, Fishersville, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your kindness be directed to the Augusta Regional Free Clinic, P.O. Box 153, Fishersville, VA 22939 or Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939 or any charity of your choice.
Having cultivated an interest in all things around him including earning the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout, Bob became a most creative story teller and a lover of music. Bob earned his BA in history at the University of Michigan where he was in the marching band. In addition, he achieved his teaching certification, graduating in time to be a draftee of the U.S. Army. He enlisted, becoming an instructor at the U.S. Army Signal Center and School in New Jersey and later in Germany. Upon discharge, he began his public teaching career for the Dorchester County (Maryland) School system where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Rebecca Dalton. They married on March 25, 1972 in Cambridge, Maryland. Bob went on to earn his MA in History from Salisbury State University and Secondary Education/Administrators Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. He retired after 28 years as a teacher, Coach, Vice Principal, and Supervisor of Operations, Construction, Capital Expenditures and High School Social Studies.
Space only allows for a superficial enumeration of a few of his many deeds. Bob was curious about and loved learning about everything, most especially travel, gardening on "the Farm" with family and friends, and genealogy. He traversed the country, mastering the roads with his beloved wife and puppy in their RV, always planning stops to visit with, help and care for parents and friends. Along the way, he worked as a Historical Interpreter at the Museum of American Frontier Culture and as a Concessionaire at Disney World. It would be difficult to find any one more inclined to scatter seeds of kindness in a more modest and unobtrusive way, helping to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Virginia and Mississippi. He also volunteered as a pharmacy technician and an eligibility worker at the Augusta Regional Free Clinic and volunteered as a Medicare counselor. Family genealogy was a passion, always searching and finding facts, not only for his family but any others who asked questions. Best at giving, at loving, at serving, at kindness, at compassion, at living - always with a smile, a joke and a kind word; he took life for a ride. He has left a legacy. He has bequeathed to us the memories and contributions of a life dedicated to family, work, and the pursuit of excellence.
He is survived by his loving wife, Becky, of Staunton, and cherished puppy, Casey; his brother Richard of Washington, DC; brother John and sister-in-law Shellie of Alto, Michigan; sister Diana of Mint Spring. He will be greatly missed by his nephews and nieces, Adam & Jessie Rader of Grand Rapids, MI; Leslie Rader & Jake DeeWaard of Cedar Springs, MI; Wendy and Jason Bazilian of San Diego, CA; Kristin and Aaron Leikam with grandnephew Tanner and grandniece Gabriela of Kapaa, Kauai; Bill Rader of Baltimore, MD; Paul Rader and James Rader of Washington, DC.
Enormous gratitude and appreciation are extended to Stuarts Draft Family Practice, the Staff of the Cranial Base Program at the University of Michigan, HOPE at Augusta Health and Hospice of the Shenandoah team – Carol, Pam, Melissa, Sharon, Kathy, Lynn and Mark.
A gathering of friends in the area to honor his memory will be Saturday, March 10 from 2-4pm at Charlton and Groom Funeral Home, 961 Goose Creek Road, Fishersville, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your kindness be directed to the Augusta Regional Free Clinic, P.O. Box 153, Fishersville, VA 22939 or Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939 or any charity of your choice.
Robert Donald Rader, 66, of Staunton passed away Friday, March 2, 2012. Bob was born at the family home in Coral, Michigan, on October 21, 1945, the second son of William Austin and June LaMoine (Hudnut) Rader.
Having cultivated an interest in all things around him including earning the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout, Bob became a most creative story teller and a lover of music. Bob earned his BA in history at the University of Michigan where he was in the marching band. In addition, he achieved his teaching certification, graduating in time to be a draftee of the U.S. Army. He enlisted, becoming an instructor at the U.S. Army Signal Center and School in New Jersey and later in Germany. Upon discharge, he began his public teaching career for the Dorchester County (Maryland) School system where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Rebecca Dalton. They married on March 25, 1972 in Cambridge, Maryland. Bob went on to earn his MA in History from Salisbury State University and Secondary Education/Administrators Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. He retired after 28 years as a teacher, Coach, Vice Principal, and Supervisor of Operations, Construction, Capital Expenditures and High School Social Studies.
Space only allows for a superficial enumeration of a few of his many deeds. Bob was curious about and loved learning about everything, most especially travel, gardening on "the Farm" with family and friends, and genealogy. He traversed the country, mastering the roads with his beloved wife and puppy in their RV, always planning stops to visit with, help and care for parents and friends. Along the way, he worked as a Historical Interpreter at the Museum of American Frontier Culture and as a Concessionaire at Disney World. It would be difficult to find any one more inclined to scatter seeds of kindness in a more modest and unobtrusive way, helping to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Virginia and Mississippi. He also volunteered as a pharmacy technician and an eligibility worker at the Augusta Regional Free Clinic and volunteered as a Medicare counselor. Family genealogy was a passion, always searching and finding facts, not only for his family but any others who asked questions. Best at giving, at loving, at serving, at kindness, at compassion, at living - always with a smile, a joke and a kind word; he took life for a ride. He has left a legacy. He has bequeathed to us the memories and contributions of a life dedicated to family, work, and the pursuit of excellence.
He is survived by his loving wife, Becky, of Staunton, and cherished puppy, Casey; his brother Richard of Washington, DC; brother John and sister-in-law Shellie of Alto, Michigan; sister Diana of Mint Spring. He will be greatly missed by his nephews and nieces, Adam & Jessie Rader of Grand Rapids, MI; Leslie Rader & Jake DeeWaard of Cedar Springs, MI; Wendy and Jason Bazilian of San Diego, CA; Kristin and Aaron Leikam with grandnephew Tanner and grandniece Gabriela of Kapaa, Kauai; Bill Rader of Baltimore, MD; Paul Rader and James Rader of Washington, DC.
Enormous gratitude and appreciation are extended to Stuarts Draft Family Practice, the Staff of the Cranial Base Program at the University of Michigan, HOPE at Augusta Health and Hospice of the Shenandoah team – Carol, Pam, Melissa, Sharon, Kathy, Lynn and Mark.
A gathering of friends in the area to honor his memory will be Saturday, March 10 from 2-4pm at Charlton and Groom Funeral Home, 961 Goose Creek Road, Fishersville, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your kindness be directed to the Augusta Regional Free Clinic, P.O. Box 153, Fishersville, VA 22939 or Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939 or any charity of your choice.
Having cultivated an interest in all things around him including earning the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout, Bob became a most creative story teller and a lover of music. Bob earned his BA in history at the University of Michigan where he was in the marching band. In addition, he achieved his teaching certification, graduating in time to be a draftee of the U.S. Army. He enlisted, becoming an instructor at the U.S. Army Signal Center and School in New Jersey and later in Germany. Upon discharge, he began his public teaching career for the Dorchester County (Maryland) School system where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Rebecca Dalton. They married on March 25, 1972 in Cambridge, Maryland. Bob went on to earn his MA in History from Salisbury State University and Secondary Education/Administrators Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. He retired after 28 years as a teacher, Coach, Vice Principal, and Supervisor of Operations, Construction, Capital Expenditures and High School Social Studies.
Space only allows for a superficial enumeration of a few of his many deeds. Bob was curious about and loved learning about everything, most especially travel, gardening on "the Farm" with family and friends, and genealogy. He traversed the country, mastering the roads with his beloved wife and puppy in their RV, always planning stops to visit with, help and care for parents and friends. Along the way, he worked as a Historical Interpreter at the Museum of American Frontier Culture and as a Concessionaire at Disney World. It would be difficult to find any one more inclined to scatter seeds of kindness in a more modest and unobtrusive way, helping to rebuild storm-ravaged homes in Virginia and Mississippi. He also volunteered as a pharmacy technician and an eligibility worker at the Augusta Regional Free Clinic and volunteered as a Medicare counselor. Family genealogy was a passion, always searching and finding facts, not only for his family but any others who asked questions. Best at giving, at loving, at serving, at kindness, at compassion, at living - always with a smile, a joke and a kind word; he took life for a ride. He has left a legacy. He has bequeathed to us the memories and contributions of a life dedicated to family, work, and the pursuit of excellence.
He is survived by his loving wife, Becky, of Staunton, and cherished puppy, Casey; his brother Richard of Washington, DC; brother John and sister-in-law Shellie of Alto, Michigan; sister Diana of Mint Spring. He will be greatly missed by his nephews and nieces, Adam & Jessie Rader of Grand Rapids, MI; Leslie Rader & Jake DeeWaard of Cedar Springs, MI; Wendy and Jason Bazilian of San Diego, CA; Kristin and Aaron Leikam with grandnephew Tanner and grandniece Gabriela of Kapaa, Kauai; Bill Rader of Baltimore, MD; Paul Rader and James Rader of Washington, DC.
Enormous gratitude and appreciation are extended to Stuarts Draft Family Practice, the Staff of the Cranial Base Program at the University of Michigan, HOPE at Augusta Health and Hospice of the Shenandoah team – Carol, Pam, Melissa, Sharon, Kathy, Lynn and Mark.
A gathering of friends in the area to honor his memory will be Saturday, March 10 from 2-4pm at Charlton and Groom Funeral Home, 961 Goose Creek Road, Fishersville, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your kindness be directed to the Augusta Regional Free Clinic, P.O. Box 153, Fishersville, VA 22939 or Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939 or any charity of your choice.
