Robert Earl Northern

He was preceded in death by his larger-than-life son, Robert Earl Northern Jr., and by his parents, T. Earl Northern and Patricia Miller Northern. He is survived by his beloved daughter, Stephanie Northern Sadtler, and her husband, Benjamin Sadtler; his daughter-in-law, Amber Northern; his grandchildren, Benjamin Beale Sadtler Jr., Colby MacLean Sadtler, and Samuel Massie Sadtler; his sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth “Liz” Northern Via and David Via; his nephews, John and Chris Via; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Diane and Buddy Jones; his niece, Christy Schrader; his Colombian daughter, Gaby Galvis Sierra; his stepmother, Violet Erb Northern; and, of course, his dear pups, Piggy and Baby.

Bob began his career in real estate as a teenager and bought his first home from proceeds from his newspaper route at the age of 16. He was the youngest licensed realtor in Virginia at the age of 18 and was the longest serving Broker Emeritus in Virginia, providing first-rate service for nearly 61 years. He enjoyed running his own custom-building company for roughly 10 years. He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Richmond and was in the Army ROTC program.

Some of his happiest years were spent on the river with his wife and children and a bucket of Golden Skillet. Bob was the speedy daredevil who commanded the boat and outskied his teenage kids. Many people looked to him for counsel, and he always gave wise advice. He couldn’t tell a joke but never stopped trying!

His greatest love was Marjorie, and he never wanted to be far from her. Bob was a gentle giant with a pure heart, a man who practiced outsized generosity not as an occasional gesture but as a way of living. He gave freely, loved steadily, and made people feel cared for in quiet, lasting ways. To know him was to understand genuine kindness. We take comfort in picturing him happy in heaven, whole again, and reunited with the son he loved so deeply.

A graveside service will be held at Winns Baptist Church, 12320 Winns Church Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059, on July 13, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, where Bob served as an EMT for many years.