Robert Charles Metzger
November 13, 1941-January 22, 2022

Robert Metzger passed quietly in Suffolk, VA, in the early morning hours of January 22, 2022. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Beverly "BB" Metzger, and his parents, James and Ruby Metzger.

Robert was born in Roanoke, VA and moved to Portsmouth with his family at the age of two. He grew up in Alexander Park, the massive wartime housing project originally built for civilian industrial workers supporting American forces in World War II, as the fourth of seven children.

When Robert came of age, he decided to enlist in the Army instead of waiting to be drafted. He was wearing his uniform the night he showed up at the door of the Williams Court Community Center to go to a dance. Unfortunately, Vernon Ripley, who ran the center, had a policy that no servicemen were allowed. So, Robert went home, changed into civilian clothes, and told Vernon when he returned that the man in uniform that he'd seen was his brother. Vernon's daughter Beverly was at the dance that night, and Robert was captivated the moment he saw the petite, beautiful redhead. They eloped to South Mills, NC to get married on December 10, 1961, while Robert was finishing up his last few months of service at Fort Eustis. Beverly's mother was not happy they ran off to get married – especially since Beverly tried to sneak upstairs without saying anything – but Robert soon became a beloved member of his in-laws' family as well, and he and Beverly celebrated their 60 ^th anniversary this past December.

After leaving the Army, Robert had several jobs, including one in a butcher's shop, before becoming a mechanic's helper at Ryder Truck Rental. Once there he quickly gained promotions, and his wife and two sons followed him to Wilmington, NC for his first management job, where he also started a small, but profitable, independent repair shop with his neighbor, Eugene Gore. Transfers back to Portsmouth, then to Richmond and finally to Fayetteville, NC (where he served as a volunteer firefighter) followed. He returned to Portsmouth in 1984 and joined Mary Jane Bakeries in Norfolk to manage their delivery truck fleet, and later started a career in truck sales with Norfolk Truck Center.

Robert could and would fix anything that needed fixing. As he grew older and had a little more time, he began to play golf regularly, often with his brother-in-law Foster Bolton. He also loved to fish and bought himself a boat, then sold it when he realized how much work and money was involved – only to buy another one a few years later once he'd forgotten all that.

Robert loved the family dogs. When a shelter rescue named Annie joined the family in 1997, he began coming home to have lunch with her. And over the recent Christmas holiday he reminisced about Missy, the smart collie/Sheltie mix who defended him from the voter registrar by nipping him when he touched Robert's shoulder as he left the house.

He also adored his redheaded granddaughter Madison, who called him "Pop" and was the apple of his eye. She even laughed at the corny "dad jokes" at which the rest of the family would roll their eyes, and he charmed the nurses with those jokes during the hospital visits he made in his later years.

In addition to his granddaughter, Robert is survived by his sons, Robert, Jr. (Laurie) and Michael. He had a large and loving family that included his sister Edith Bolton (Foster), who predeceased him, and his nieces and nephews Debbie Hanssen, Judy Agnor, Pau Murch and Jerry Murch, who survive him; his sister Marguerite Cofield, who predeceased him, and his nieces and nephews John Edwards, Thomas Edwards, James "Otto" Edwards and Spring Edwards, who survive him; his brother Jimmy Metzger, known as Carl Rightmer, who predeceased him; his sister Virginia Barbee (Thomas), who predeceased him, and his nephews Joe Tyndall and Kenny Tyndall, who survive him; his brother Tommy Metzger, who predeceased him; his sister Thelma Carr and his nieces Trish Carr-Jacob and Pamela Lynn Weber, who survive him; and his sister-in-law Diane Higgins, who lived with him and Beverly for 20 years, and his niece, Kathi Dietz, both of whom survive him, and his nephew Jeff Higgins, who predeceased him. He is also survived by many other cherished family members and friends and (last but by no means least) Pepper, his Shih-Tzu.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 28, 2022, at B.W. Foster Funeral Home, 1926 High St., Portsmouth, VA.