Bob Bristow loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital on Friday, June 23, 2023.  Bob was born in Puerto Rico on July 10, 1948 to the late CDR Robert I. Bristow USN-Ret and Millicent Bristow.

Bob's early years were spent traveling to the various duty stations his father was assigned to, living in Virginia, Maryland, and California. After graduating high school from Augusta Military Academy, he attended Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science, where he was studying to become a pharmacist. In 1969, during the Vietnam War, he received his draft notice and was convinced by his father that the family would feel a lot better if he were to enlist in the U.S. Navy rather than the U.S. Army or U.S. Marines. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969 and was transferred to Naval Recruit Training Center Great Lakes, IL for recruit training.

After completion of recruit training and various training schools for electronics, Bob elected to change his career path and enter a newly designated rating of Ocean Systems Technician (Maintenance). His first duty station as an OTM was U.S. Naval Facility Ramey Puerto Rico. Bob spent the rest of his 24-year naval career stationed at various U.S. Naval Facilities in Keflavik Iceland, Grand Turk, Bermuda and Brawdy Wales, UK, ultimately attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. It was while stationed at Commander Ocean Systems Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1981 he met his wife Kathy, who was also stationed at the command.

Upon his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 1993, Bob worked as a computer technician repairing electronic equipment. He later transitioned into the field of industrial security, where he was responsible for vetting and submitting the paperwork of government contractor employees for   security clearances to work on U.S. Government projects. Bob truly enjoyed his 20-year tenure in industrial security.

Bob was an avid reader, amassing a large collection of sci-fi and mystery serial subscriptions, as well as other paperback and hardcover books. He also loved working in his annual vegetable garden, spending hours digging, planting, and weeding every spring. His pride and joy, though, was his BBQ grill. Any party held at the Bristow household usually included something off the grill.

He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Katherine "Kathy" Bristow;  three sons, Patrick Henry, Sean Henry, and Cris Naum; one granddaughter, Haley Henry; his brother, William Bristow, and sister-in-law Vera; one sister, Bonnie Bristow and two nieces Kendall Foster & Whitney Underwood, their husbands and children.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 19th at 11:00 am at Foster Funeral Home, 1926 High Street, Portsmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 or at vbrescuefoundation.org/donate. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.