Robert Carson passed away peacefully on Friday, February 10th. A long-time resident of Long Island, New York, Bob and his wife Kay, followed their daughter's military family to Abilene, Texas and then finally to Hampton Roads and there planted their roots. Born of the Great Depression and matured in the realities of WWII, Bob infused the family with a sense of duty, devotion to country, and love of family. During WWII he participated in the Philippine and Mariana campaigns and spearheaded the initial assault waves into Okinawa where he was awarded the Bronze Star. In the aftermath of WWII, he married Kay Parker and began a love affair that would last for over 69 years and carry each into their mid-90s. An eye for detail and precision made him one of the best machinists in the aviation industry supporting projects such as the Navy F-14. His greatest joy was being surrounded by his two children, five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren and his reading of "The Night Before Christmas" was always the capstone to Christmas Eve. For over nine decades Bob served as an exemplar of strength and honor and as the family's patriarch, his passing signifies the end of a generation. His granddaughter best summarized the family's feelings -- "Your wings were ready but our hearts were not- love you twice, Pop!" Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Kay Carson, parents, Thomas and Isabelle Carson, and siblings Dorothy and Gene Carson. He is survived by his children: James Carson and wife Helene, and Pat Kippie and husband Pete, along with grandchildren: David Kippie and wife Diane, LtCol Kevin Kippie and wife Jennifer, Amy Carl and husband John, Timothy Carson and wife Danielle, and Dan Carson, along with great grandchildren: Caroline, Carson, Caroline, Ethan, Katie, Abbie, Madison, Mackenzie, Savannah, Kennedy and Daniel. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Friday, February 17th, at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home for visitation followed by a Liturgy of the Word at 11AM. Burial with military honors will follow at Albert G. Horton Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia at 2:00PM.