Talmadge "Rob" Schultz

Talmadge Robert Schultz was taken from this life much too soon on May 30, 2023. He was born in Wilmington, NC on December 17, 1985. Waiting in Heaven to receive him were his grandparents, Talmadge and Jo Alford, Bruce Sr. and Ila Mae Sandy, and his beloved Ziggy and Laney.

Rob came into this world larger than life! As a young child, he showed remarkable athletic abilities. He went on to play all and any sports he wanted throughout grade school. Rob started at Topsail High School playing both baseball and football. Week after week, the newspapers were filled with articles about Topsail’s success during baseball and football seasons. And the reoccurring names in those articles were Rob Schultz, Jonathan Batts, and Stephen Sidbury.

Rob excelled as a leader among his peers, but he was the perfect quarterback – smart, quick and extremely good looking! I mean all successful quarterbacks have to be cute! Rob played with such passion and drive; it was not surprising how well Topsail did. Senior year proved to be a time when Rob showed his most enduring talent, tenacity. On August 2, 2003, ten minutes into the first official football practice of his senior year, Rob suffered a season-ending injury. He broke his foot. After surgery, Rob attended every practice, offering leadership skills to the team. He was often seen on the sidelines, on his crutches, offering support to his teammates. As one reporter said, “But rest assured, Schultz will do all he can to get back on the field this year and even if the coaches decided it would be best, he doesn’t’ play, his presence in the Gold and Black WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.” Rob persevered and was back on the football field on November 5, 2003. Rob finished his senior year playing baseball where Topsail High School was ranked #1 in the state for Division 1A.

After high school, Rob went to Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC. There he played football and was again a leader among his peers. While at Methodist, Rob studied Criminal Justice and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.

Throughout all of Rob’s years of pursuing sports, his biggest fans were his mom and dad and the grandmas. They never missed a game if anyway possible and were there for all the wins and losses!

Rob returned home armed with the education and leadership skills he had earned and developed. He became a Patrol Officer with the Town of Topsail Beach. Later, he was a Patrol Deputy and a Bailiff with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. Rob loved being around people and he was pretty handsome in a uniform! He was good at handling situations with his easy smile and calming presence and comforting conversations. Rob’s years of playing football prepared him to make quick decisions and be forceful when he needed to be.

During this time, the true love of his life was born, his son Bailey. In the hard seasons of Rob’s life, Bailey was a light.

During this hard season, Rob met Nikki. She became the force of light that helped Rob walk out of this season. She helped Rob want to become a better man. And he did.

The last few years have been good years. Rob loved working with his coworkers at  Sharp Energy, he married Nikki and they joined their kids together into a crazy, fun, wild family that was filled with love for all! Rob and his dad shared a love of all sports that included Fantasy Football. You always knew where Rob and Bobby would be on Sundays….And the rest of the week, after work, he could be found curled up on the couch with Nikki watching their favorite shows.

Rob was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a son, a father, a grandson, a husband,  a nephew, a cousin and a friend to many, many people. His smile could light up the room, his stories were hilarious, he was always willing to help you, whatever you needed, and he loved sports. But the people Rob loved the most were his mom and dad, his wife and his kids.

Rob has a very special village of people who love him and will miss him forever…His parents, Bobby and Talmsi, his wife Nikki, his kids, Bailey, Douglas, Maddi, Zoe, Kaylee, Rylee and Isaiah. His aunts and uncles, Kim and Ricky Andrews, Bruce and Katrina Sandy, Sherri Hagewood, Teena Roeder. His many cousins, Taylor (T.J.) and Camille Jones and their children Alainah and Knoxxen, Hunter Jones and Fiancée Ally Griffin, Cory and Kimberly Hull, Stephen Hagewood and Fiancée Shelby Cook, Kelly  and Jamie Revior and their children, Bradley and Courtney, Savanah, Tanner, and Kelsey, Cindy Barner and her children Liberty and Zander, Chelsea and Travis Parker and their children,  Finely, Layton and Acre, and Keri Roeder.  

The family night will be Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The visitation will be at the Valley Chapel (Andrews) near Monkey Junction.

To Honor Rob, the family is requesting no flowers please. They ask that donations be sent to:

Topsail High School

 ATTN: Stephanie Curry

245 N St Johns Church Rd

 Hampstead, NC 28443.

Please make the check out to Topsail High School Athletics and in the memo section of the check, please write Rob Schultz. The family plans to establish an annual scholarship to honor Rob. Rob and his family loved the school and his teammates dearly.