Walker Robert Spinks

W. Robert "Bob" Spinks passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 24th at VCU Medical Center. Bob was born August 14,1943 in Columbia, SC. Raised in Charlotte, NC, where he met and fell in love with Nancy Helms, his future wife, and graduated from Garinger High School in 1961. He attended and graduated from Furman University with a B.A. degree. He earned a Master of Religious Education degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a M.A. degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Iowa. He served a 38 year career in Baptist theological education in a variety of development positions in several schools. He was most proud of being one of four top administrators to resign from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988 rather than implement the takeover of that school by the Fundamentalist faction of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was also proud of being the founding Director of Development for the Wake Forest University Divinity School in Winston-Salem NC. Working alone, as the sole officer of the school for seven years, he raised more than $19 million in advance of the school's opening in 1997. He finished his career as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Major Gifts at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Bob's kind and generous nature, as well as his unique and wonderful sense of humor, will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing him. He was married for 59 years to Nancy Elma Helms. Also surviving him is their daughter, Allie Spinks Schiltz of Midlothian VA; and two wonderful grandchildren, Stoller Jack Schiltz and Arden Elizabeth Schiltz. Bob is also survived by his brother, John W. Spinks and his wife, Laura Spinks, of Mill Spring, NC. He was preceded in death by their sister, Ann Graham Spinks, of Henrico. A visitation will be held at Woody Funeral Home- Huguenot Chapel on Monday, April 29, 2024 from 6pm-8pm. A funeral service will be held at Richmond's First Baptist Church on Monument Ave at 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church Endowment Fund at Richmond's First Baptist Church, Monument Avenue at the Boulevard, Richmond, VA.