Robert Norman Veale

Robert Norman Veale passed away peacefully and with a quiet grace on the evening of Wednesday, October 27th at the age of 79. In his private life, Robert was a skilled artist, a generous mentor, a loving, supportive and involved husband, father and grandfather, a loyal son, brother and uncle, a good friend and colleague, a kindhearted, honorable man and a brave warrior against the Parkinson's Disease that his body and mind battled valiantly to the very end.

Robert was born in Sumter, South Carolina in 1942. The second of four boys from a tight-knit, military family, he spent his formative years at his father's various military assignments, including Boston, Mobile, New York and Wiesbaden, Germany before the family finally settled in Dothan, Alabama. Gifted with a superior and abiding intellect, among his many talents and achievements, Robert was a high school National Merit Finalist, eventually graduating with honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1965. After earning a degree in Architecture, he practiced as a senior architect, working on teams that designed major projects spanning the US and multiple international locations.

Robert was raised to hold the concept of 'family' in the highest regard and always placed his family and close friends above the common distractions of daily life and career ambition. His two children will never forget the father who coached soccer and hockey, designed overly elaborate tree houses, created prize-worthy Halloween costumes and who never failed to show up with his toolbox ready to help fix a leaky faucet or to impart some much-needed life perspective. His grandsons will forever remember the Grandad who never met a cookie or an ice cream bar he didn't like, who helped tutor Algebra with the patience of Job, gave emergency pep-talks along with hot chocolate and biscotti, was always up for going to see a movie on the spur of the moment and who quietly cheered on their every endeavor.

Robert met his wife Jean when they were the tender ages of 13 and 16, respectively. Family lore has it that their first meeting involved a little red scooter and some non-criminal, romantic stalking via a backyard fence (by Jean and her friend Jeannie). Either way, it seems Robert and Jean were made for each other from the get-go. They married in 1965 and remained each other's best friend and touchstone throughout their lives together. They spent many fortunate years indulging in their shared love of travel, art and history, concentrating most of their travel throughout Europe where they took in some of the world's most notable architectural sights, occasionally got lost and collected artwork to commemorate their journeys along the way.

Though Robert was as an architect by profession, his true vocation within that profession was as a dedicated mentor, rendering guidance to and fostering the budding talent of many a young architect at Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, the firm he spent over 30 years at and eventually retired from in 2006.

Robert was a man who found his religion within art and architecture and found wisdom within science fiction. Like any good Jedi, he sometimes utilized that wisdom to take his children out of school to go see Star Wars movies. He had a life-long love of painting and creating, travel, classic cars, auto racing, the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

In the last 18 months of his life, Robert received care from some wonderful nurses, caregivers and home health aids. Among these, his family would like to recognize and thank his most devoted caregiver and the person who could almost always bring a smile to his face, Iddie Ntuk, as well as the rest of Robert's caregiving team with Right At Home North Atlanta, his excellent hospice nurses, hospice aids and the office staff from Long Leaf Palliative and Hospice of Atlanta.

Robert's dry wit, brilliantly acute mind and warm smile will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him. In the immortal words of one of his favorite sci-fi characters, we should all endeavor to "live long and prosper."

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Norman Veale (Col., USAF, retired) and Martha Watkins Veale. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 56 years, Jean O'Neal Veale,

son Maj. (USAF, retired) Stephen Carson Veale (Valerie) of Clarkesville, GA, daughter Kathryn Veale Carlino (Vincent) of Norcross, GA, grandsons 2nd Lt. Carson Alexander Veale (USAF)

of Vance AFB, OK and Sean Maston Veale of Knoxville, TN, three brothers and sisters-in-law:

Lt. Col. (USAF, retired) William Veale (Vivian) of Dothan, AL., Dr. Charles Veale (Nancy) of Auburn, AL. and Dr. George Veale (Mary Alice) of Dothan, AL., five nephews, four nieces,

eight grandnephews, twelve grandnieces, one great-grandnephew, one great-grandniece and

two step-grandsons.

Visitation and funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd. NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Visitation will be from

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, followed by the funeral service at 3:00 pm. A private interment will be held in Dothan, AL. at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The National Trust For Historic Preservation,

The Movers & Shakers Parkinson's Support Group and The National Audubon Society.