Robert Rash

Robert (Bob) Gene Rash quietly said goodbye to his life on July 12, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born on February 17, 1939, into a hard but formative life on a primitive farm in East St. Louis, Illinois, to the late George Wesley and Zettie Delois (Oliver) Rash.

Farm life shaped Bob from a young age. Alongside his late older half-brother George and his late younger sisters Jeanette and Barbara, he shared the daily responsibilities of a working homestead. While the girls tended to household tasks—laundry, meals, and mending—Bob and George worked the fields, pumped water for the house and livestock, and hunted, fished, and trapped to help put food on the table and earn a bit of spending money. He often told stories of checking his trap lines before school in the dead of winter and sleeping near the wood-burning stove to stay warm. Meals were simple—often a pot of beans, morning biscuits, and the occasional chunk of ham—but filled with the warmth of family and hard-earned resilience.

Bob attended a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade and chose to continue on to high school in town, despite the prevailing assumption that "farm kids" wouldn't go to college. Though he had been led to believe he wasn’t smart enough for higher education, the U.S. Marine Corps revealed otherwise. Enlisting at 18, Bob tested with high aptitude in mathematics and was quickly advanced through college-level coursework in electronics. He trained to service and rebuild Tactical Navigation Units for military aircraft—a skill for which he was recognized with distinction.

While visiting relatives in Arkansas, Bob met Peggy Lou (Touchstone), whom he married. After his military service, the couple moved from California to northern Illinois with their young son, Robert Wesley (Sue Falato). Bob worked tirelessly—tending sheep on a farm owned by Marshall Fields, driving school buses, working in a produce warehouse, and running a gas station where he always had hot coffee ready for local police.

One evening, officers stopping by for coffee encouraged Bob to apply to the Highland Park Police Department. He did—and was hired as a patrolman. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, leaving a lasting impact at every stage of his career. He and Peggy had two more children, Stacy DeAnn (Erickson) and Richard Norton (Laura Fredriksson). During this time, Bob served as a juvenile officer and worked with a local attorney to help rewrite juvenile laws to better protect vulnerable youth. Gary Sinise, in his book Grateful American, credited Bob with helping him course-correct during a difficult time as a teen in Highland Park.

Later in life, Bob and Peggy divorced, and Bob married Kathleen Loraine (Rogan), who brought two sons into the family: the late Johndale Patrick and Scott Mitchell Patrick (Debby Blanks). Bob embraced his role as a father to all the children while continuing to advance in law enforcement. He supported Kathy in launching her marketing firm, which grew into a nationwide business and was eventually acquired by a Fortune 500 company.

After retiring as Chief of Police in 1991 following 25 years of service, Bob and Kathy moved to Crozet, Virginia, to enjoy their retirement on a working farm with cows and horses. They traveled the world including time in Ireland, Iceland, Greece etc. They also spent cherished time in Hawaii, Miami, and Disney World with their children and grandchildren. They were married 44 years.

Bob found joy in everyday moments. He and Scott shared special trips to Miami, Cuban meals, and quiet conversations overlooking the bay. He went fishing each year at Kentucky Lake with Robert and Richard and spent countless early mornings on the farm with Stacy, tackling chores and playing three hands of Rummy. His relationships with his children meant everything to him.

Bob was a gifted storyteller, happiest with a cup of coffee in hand and loved ones nearby. He was always willing to help—towing stuck tractors, assisting with lambing, tending his roses and vegetable garden, or baking bread and pies parties with the neighbors. He camped and hiked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, fished in the farm pond, and was a faithful attendee of Free Union Baptist Church. Sundays often ended with a golf or football game on TV, or a quiet moment with a good book.

He was "Papa" to Nicole and Taylor Rash, Courtney Erickson, Robert and Mack Rash, and “Grandpa Bob” to Sam (Blanks) Gonzales, and Jonathan and Matthew Blanks. He watched Disney movies and Tom and Jerry with them, drove them on the tractor, had lots of conversations and played games with joy and patience.

Bob Gene Rash lived a life of integrity, quiet strength, and unwavering love for his family. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, service, kindness, and unforgettable stories—shared often over a pot of coffee, some tasty dessert he made and a grateful heart.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Ignite-Futures with Promise at ignitepromise.org. or Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue at hopeslegacy.com.

A Celebration of Life in honor of Bob will be scheduled soon for both Charlottesville, VA and Highland Park, IL.