Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

April 17, 2018

CHARLOTTE – William Thomas (Tom) Robertson, Jr. died at the age of 86 at The Cypress following a full and wonderful life.  Tom was the son of the late William Thomas Robertson, Sr., and Cora Lewis Robertson of Cascade, VA. Tom was born on July 4, 1931, in Cascade.

Tom attended a two-room school in Cascade grades 1-8, then graduated from Brosville High School. He then graduated from Virginia Tech in 1952 with a BS in Engineering.

After graduation, Tom volunteered for the US Army Corps of Engineers. While stationed at Fort Belvoir, Tom met his life’s love, Barbara Jean Fender. They were married in 1955 in Altavista, VA.

Following active duty, Tom went to work with Mill Power Supply in Charlotte. He subsequently became Manager of Fuels, VP of Fuels, Executive VP, and then President of Mill Power. Tom also continued to serve his country in the National Guard until retiring as a Major in 1965.

Mill Power became part of Duke Power in 1988, and Tom became Vice President of Duke. He retired from Duke Power in 1994.

Over the years, Tom participated in many civic organizations, including the Charlotte Rotary Club (President 2003), Chamber of Commerce, UNCC Engineering Advisory Committee, VP of the United Way, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Charlotte Mercy Hospital Board, and Johnson C. Smith Advisory Board.

Tom also participated in a number of professional organizations. He served as President of the National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) Committee, the Purchasing Roundtable, and the Carolina-Virginia Purchasing Group.

As part of the Virginia Tech family, Tom and Barbara established an endowed scholarship in the College of Engineering. They were members of the Ut Prosim Society. Tom was on the Committee of 100 and was inducted into the Academy of Engineering Excellence.

Tom loved his family and was a great help to them. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara (Charlotte, NC), sons Mark (Charlotte, NC) and Jeff (Pittsboro, NC), their wives Halina and Nan, grandchildren Ian (Charlotte, NC), Margaret (Raleigh, NC), and Charlotte (Ithaca College), and niece, Suzanne Hinnov (Scituate, RI) and her daughters Lalania Boots (Warwick, RI) and Dr. Breta Boots (Cherry Valley, MA). He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mary Bredemier. Tom is also survived by two cousins, Ruby Dillon of Eden, NC and Virginia Curtis of Reidsville, NC.

Tom was a member of Hawthorne United Methodist Church, where he and Barbara were members of the Walter J. Miller Class and served on a number of church committees.

Services will be at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist on Saturday, April 21 at 12:00 pm. Rev. Jamie Armstrong will preside, assisted by Dr. Tom Stegald, the minister at Hawthorne Lane.  The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, please give to The Salvation Army, PO Box 31128, Charlotte, NC 28231,  Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church,  Permanent Endowment Fund, 501 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 or The William T. and Barbara F. Robertson College of Engineering Endowment Fund,  VA Tech Advancement (0336)  Office of Gift Accounting, 902 Price’s Fork Rd., Blacksburg, Va. 24061.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Email condolences may be sent to bfrobertson@mindspring.com.