Robert E. Pardew

Robert E. Pardew, age 94, of Bel Air, Maryland passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on February 25, 2021. Bob leaves a meaningful legacy with his easygoing nature, generosity in helping others, and terrific sense of humor as family patriarch and friend to many.

Born on a tobacco farm in Roaring River, North Carolina in 1926, he was the son of the late W.E. (Erk) and Viola (Settle) Pardew. After his high school graduation, Bob enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the LCS 92 for two years. As a World War II veteran, he saw combat aboard his ship in Okinawa, Japan. Following the war, he moved to Baltimore County with his family and became a dairy farmer.

In December 1949, after a long-distance courtship, Bob married the late Virginia (Mathis) Pardew of Elkin, NC. Together they raised three children: Mona, Keith, and Jada.

After 20 years of dairy farming, Bob left to work for Watkins Salt (now Cargill). He spent the next 22 years as a plant manager, overseeing salt processing. After retirement, Bob and Virginia moved back to North Carolina to be closer to extended family. There, Bob continued to work part time. In his later years he found a group of friends to drink coffee and swap stories with six days a week at the Elkin McDonald’s.

He was an active member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bel Air, MD for 30 years and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in State Road, NC for 32 years. He loved gardening, taking walks, playing ping-pong, and winning at Rook, especially with his grandchildren. He came up with practical fixes for many ordinary tools and tasks and enjoyed playing good-natured pranks on others.

Bob was preceded in death by his faithful wife, Virginia, and his beloved granddaughter, Lauren Banks, as well as two brothers and three sisters.

Bob is survived by Mona (Charley) Garrett, Jada (Dave) Banks; Keith (Peggy) Pardew; grandchildren, Christy (Josh Raisler Cohn) Pardew, Katie Carroll, Julie Garrett, Phil (Marcela) Garrett, Lisa (Brantley) Jarvis, Greg (Courtney) Banks; and great-grandchildren, Avery and Peyton Carroll, Oz and Elias Raisler Cohn, and June Jarvis. His family is grateful to Ann Calloway for her friendship with their father.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 1432 US 21, State Road, NC 28676.