Bob Patterson passed away on April 23, 2020. His wife Jeanette passed away on December 17,
2023. Their family will be holding a memorial service for them on August 3 at Mountain View
Cemetery at 10 a.m. The service will include time for friends and family to share memories. The
public is invited to attend.
Bob and Jeanette McIntyre married on August 13, 1961, and moved to Vinton when Bob was
appointed as principal at William Byrd High School. Jeanette served as an office administrator at
William Byrd Middle School. They were beloved members of the community for decades.
Patterson Stadium at WBHS was renamed after Mr. Patterson.
Bob was born in Rocky Mount, N.C., in September 1936. As a child, he worked setting up
bowling pins and on tobacco farms, “putting in” tobacco. He attended Arlington Street Baptist
Church with his mother faithfully and was a loving and faithful servant of Jesus Christ every day
of his life.
The youngest of four children, Bob developed a love of sports at an early age. He spent a great
deal of time at the Rocky Mount YMCA, playing sports and watching old cowboy movies on
Saturday mornings. He was fast, could hit a baseball and could shoot a basketball. However, it
almost all came to an end when he developed a serious case of rheumatic fever in the ninth
grade. He was hospitalized for three months; he felt that the illness impacted his speed.
Nevertheless, Bob lettered in football, basketball, and track.
While Bob was quarterback and halfback, Rocky Mount High never lost more than three games
in a season. He was scouted by the Cleveland Indians and played for a semi-pro team for a
while.
Bob received an athletic scholarship to East Carolina College, playing football and running
track. He set a record in the 880 that remains to this day for East Carolina College. He was
recruited while at East Carolina to teach science and to coach football and track at Andrew Lewis
High School in Salem, beginning in 1958.
Bob held several positions at Andrew Lewis in the 1960s, including chairman of the Science
Department and athletic director. He then became principal at William Byrd where he remained
for 34 years until 1999– the longest tenure for a Virginia high school principal at the time.
He was only 29 years old when he was named principal at William Byrd– one of the youngest
principals in the state.
He cared deeply about students, teachers, and staff, attending athletic and other events
throughout his tenure and getting to know most students by name. When Bob retired as principal,
students and faculty both shared that it was as if they were losing a member of the family. He was described as energetic, friendly, supportive, approachable, and an avid practical joker. He
often wore a “Golden Attitude” pin and always tried to model this attitude for others and to live
by the Golden Rule.
In addition to serving as principal of WBHS, Bob was also involved in the Lions Club, the
Virginia High School League (Hall of Fame Class of 2000), the Vinton Planning Commission
(for over 21 years), the Vinton Highway Safety Commission (for over 46 years), the Vinton First
Aid Crew Board of Directors, the Dogwood Festival, and many other community organizations.
He was Father of the Year for Education in the Roanoke Valley in 1985. He was a regular blood
and platelet donor, donating over 35 gallons, during the course of his life. After retirement, Bob
volunteered at Berkshire Healthcare Center from 2006-2019. He was also a member of the
“Caroloa Chorus,” a singing seniors chorus, performing at nursing homes in the Roanoke Valley
area.
Bob was a man of strong Christian faith, coming to Vinton Baptist Church in 1965 from Salem
Baptist. He taught Sunday School for about 35 years and became a Life Deacon in 2010. He also
preached at the Roanoke Rescue Mission on designated nights as part of the church's outreach
program.
“Bob was one of the finest human beings I have ever met in my life,” said Coach Norm
Lineburg. “He never cursed, never said a bad word about anyone. He was a loyal friend. Bob
was so intelligent, and also such a tremendous athlete. He could coach any sport. He was always
so positive. The kids loved him. On sports trips he would make sure all the kids were taken care
of, especially those who didn’t have as much. He also loved to play jokes and kid around– he
was such a fun guy– tremendous with kids and adults.”
“He was not an ‘I’ person; he was a ‘we’ person,” said Lineburg. “He was always helping
someone. He was as close to a perfect person as I have ever been around.”
Jeanette Patterson was born on July 5, 1937, also in Rocky Mount, N.C. After graduating from
East Carolina College and establishing herself with the Social Security Administration in
Lynchburg, she married Bob. They set up their household in Salem initially before moving to
Vinton.
Jeanette took care of the household, and most of the children’s activities, eventually taking a
position in the William Byrd Middle School office, taking attendance and assisting with other
duties, allowing her to establish lifelong relationships with many students she followed through
high school and into adulthood.
She had many, many friends and colleagues throughout her life. She spent many days helping
with the Roanoke Valley SPCA, the Vinton Baptist Sunday School and Vacation Bible School,
but her focus was always on her family.
In December 2019, the Pattersons moved to Maryland to be near their family.
Bob and Jeanette had three children– Leigh, Robert, and Carol– and four grandchildren-– Sam, Xander, Owen, and James–and a wonderful life together.
