Robert Small

Robert Bernard Small, 82, of Petersburg died on Sunday, December 27, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyrus Jules and Hazel Belle Small and a brother, Mr. Richard Small of Fresno, CA. Mr. Small was born in Salem, ILL, spent his early childhood in Denver, Colorado and after graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A. degree, became a resident of Southside Virginia in 1950. Mr. Small was a retired civil servant having completed 37 years of service in various administrative positions at Fort Lee, VA. He also completed the prescribed Reserve Officer Training Course while in college and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1950 and continued to be active in the Army Reserve Program until he retired at the rank of Lt. Col. in 1984. He was a long time member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Petersburg and served in the offices of Deacon and Elder with that congregation. He was a charter member of the Colonial Heights Jaycees, a past member of the Petersburg Kiwanis Club and served as a volunteer at the Southside Regional Medical Hospital. Mr. Small is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Small and three children: Mr. Robert A. Small of Petersburg; Mrs. Janet Nugent of Richmond, the mother of Phillip and Amanda Nugent; Mrs. Donna Allen of Chesapeake, the mother of William Sampson and step-mother of Roderick and Nicholas Allen and Whitney Ketchum. In efforts to further his service to mankind, Mr. Small gave of himself as a selfless gift of donation. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Second Presbyterian Church, 419 West Washington Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the TriCity SPCA or to the local Red Cross.