Robert L. Minor

Robert L Minor, age 80, passed away at home on May 23, 2013 surrounded by his family. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 27, 2013 at Lakeside Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, with a visitation following. Bob was born August 6, 1932 in Washington, DC to the late Myrtle Cecil and Embrey Paul Minor. Throughout the early part of his life, Bob enjoyed working with and around race horses which he and his father owned and trained. He graduated from the University of Maryland where he was President of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and earned one of his many nicknames, "Mr. Oh-Fine". He went on to receive his Law degree from the Washington College of Law while working at the Department of Agriculture in the Foreign Agricultural Service, where he started his career in the international tobacco industry. In 1967, he met Sandy and Wicky Thorpe, and in 1969 moved his family to Rocky Mount to join Thorpe & Ricks Tobacco Company. Through his work, he had the opportunity to cultivate a deep love for travel and made many dear friends around the world, especially throughout Asia. Bob loved all kinds of sports, from assisting the the Washington Lions ice-hockey team as "stick boy" and as "ball boy" for coach Red Auerbach's professional basketball team, to being a life-long Redskins fan, to cheering on his children and grandchildren at every possible sporting event. After growing up in a big city, Bob, as an adult, developed a love and passion for gardening and wildlife. He enjoyed many Summers on the Outer Banks with his family. He never turned down an invitation to travel and to spend time with his children, grandchildren and friends. Bob will be remembered by his family as a good and honest man, a strong and generous father, a loyal and lifelong friend. He was humble about his accomplishments, and always put family and friends ahead of his own personal needs. We will miss his rock solid will and personal strength, his good advice and his unconditional love, and his funny sayings about life, such as, "the harder you work, the luckier you get." Indeed, Bob worked extremely hard. He lived a full and interesting life and his family and friends are so fortunate to have been greatly enriched by his presence in theirs. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Grace Baker Minor; his son Robert Lloyd Minor, Jr and wife, Sandra Jane McCurdy-Minor of Belvidere, IL; his son Richard Gabriel Minor and wife, Linda Trees Minor of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; his daughter Wendy Minor Graham and husband, Geoffrey Dyer Graham of Atlanta, GA; his sister, Agnes Minor Padden and husband, Donald A. Padden of Frederick, MD; and nine grandchildren Sarah, Liza, Ryan, Brandon, George, William, James, Alexander and Rhea. He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Embrey Minor; and his brother, Embrey Cecil Minor. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Friends of Hospice - Nash General, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Lakeside Baptist Church 1501 Sunset Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-446-0126 --> | Monday 5/27, 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm Service Lakeside Baptist Church 1501 Sunset Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-446-0126 --> | Monday 5/27, 2:00 pm