Robert Ransom Tait

Robert was born on November 25, 1945 in White Plains New York while his father, George Tait, attended Columbia University in New York City as a graduate student. The family moved to Waynesboro Virginia in 1950 when George began work for DuPont and then moved again in 1953 with DuPont to Camden South Carolina.

Robert attended Camden High School through his junior year where he was an active member of the Camden High School marching band and “played” the French horn with energy and enthusiasm - with the band leader, Bill Basden, once commenting to his mother that “Robert got more out of less talent than anyone I ever knew!” Robert went on to graduate from Huguenot High School in Richmond Virginia in 1964 where the family moved in the summer of 1963 with DuPont.

Robert attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets, graduating in 1968 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army. Robert served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970, first as an infantry platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division and later as an adviser to the South Vietnamese military. He went on to join the US Army Military Police and served as provost marshal at Dugway Proving Grounds in Dugway Utah until he finished his military service in 1973.

Robert attended Wake Forest University School of Law, graduating with a JD in 1976. He went on to join the civil service in Washington DC (living in Fairfax Virginia), working initially with the IRS and later with the Security and Exchange Commission until his retirement in 2000 when Robert and his wife Sibi moved to Apex North Carolina.

Robert had a strong and abiding faith. He was an active member of Burke Presbyterian Church in Burke Virginia (outside of Washington) for more 20 years (until 2000) and was an active member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Cary North Carolina from then.

Besides his deep faith, Robert had a strong commitment to support our active duty military personnel and our military veterans. He was a major contributing member of the National Capital Chapter of the 101st Airborne Division Association for more than 40 years and regularly attended their annual Memorial Day gathering at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert was married to the former Sybil Clyburn of Camden South Carolina for almost 42 years before she passed away in 2010.

Robert is survived by his brother Richard Tait, his sister Amelia Tait Kamradt and five cousins on his mother’s side – David (Christopher) Palmer, Sarah Palmer, Patricia (Tish) Palmer Burgher, Debbie Palmer Booth and Madeleine Palmer.

A memorial service for Robert will be held on Saturday March 28 at 11:00 am at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Cary North Carolina with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall.

Notes or cards can be sent to:

Richard Tait

1844 Windov’r Way

West Chester PA 19382

[email protected]

610-793-3032