Bobbie R. Champaign

Born September 7, 1922 in Cisco, TX, she was the first of six children born to the late Eli Wesley and Essie Ellen (Tarver) Robertson. Raised on a farm in San Patricio County, TX, she graduated from Sinton High School in 1941.

She was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Sinton as an operator and later Plymouth Oil Company in Sinton where she worked as a secretary in the land department. On December 18, 1945 she married Marsden E. Champaign in San Antonio, TX.

While living in Canoga Park, CA she was a Girl Scout Troop leader. She was an avid fundraiser for the political campaigns of George Murphy for U.S. Senate and Ronald Reagan for Governor.

She was a lifetime member and a national award winner with the Herb Society of America (HSA). She was also a member of both the Potomac and the Virginia Commonwealth Units (VCU) of the HSA, having served as a past Chair of the VCU and longtime Ways and Means Chair. She was known as the lavender lady, a superb cook, and an active member of the VCU’s Gourmet Group.

Bobbie was a juried member of the Historical Society of Early American Decorations (HSEAD) and longtime Secretary/Treasurer of the Shenandoah Chapter of the HSEAD. As a volunteer, she taught sewing to immigrant women in Fairfax County. Bobbie was a member of the Shenandoah Valley Quilters and of the Thursday Morning Quilters. She also served as a former volunteer for the Waynesboro-East Augusta Chamber of Commerce information center at the former Outlet Village.

Bobbie was a cheerful and happy person, quick to laugh, a hard worker, fiercely independent and conservative to the core. She loved her family and loved to attend family reunions. Her four grandsons were the apples of her eye. She was especially helpful as they learned to cook. She made a visit to Green Valley Book Fair every opening to look for cookbooks appropriate for them. Every time she went to the grocery store she looked for items that they would appreciate for their pantries.

Along with her husband, she lived in Sinton and Rankin, TX; Wellsboro, PA; Oceanside and Tustin, CA; Bedford, MA; Syracuse, NY; Canoga Park, CA; Annandale, Stephens City, and Reston, VA before moving to Waynesboro in 1988 after his retirement.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Eli Wesley (Dub) and Charles L. Robertson; and three sisters, Lois Virginia King, Imogene Coonrod, and Mary Wooten.

Survivors include her husband of 78 years, Marsden E. Champaign of Waynesboro; three daughters, Patricia Champaign and husband, Alvis Beckelhimer of Roanoke, VA, Deborah Champaign of Brandon, FL, and Michele Early and husband, Reginald of Windsor, NC; grandsons, Andrew T. Piddington of St. Petersburg, FL, Ryan Piddington (Ami) of Riverview, FL, Christopher Mortimer (Jessica) of Mechanicsville, VA, Paul Mortimer of Silver Spring, MD, and Eric Beckelhimer of Roanoke, VA; great-granddaughters, Sarah, Lauren, and Taylor Piddington of Tampa, FL, and Annaliese Piddington of Riverview, FL; great-grandsons, Liam Piddington of Riverview, FL, River Mortimer, Jack Barnett and Adam Barnett all of Mechanicville, VA; sister, Elizabeth Lee of Rockport, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 W. Main St., Waynesboro with Father Anthony Andres officiating. Inurnment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Waynesboro.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Waynesboro.

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com