Robert Eugene Tinnell

Robert Eugene Tinnell was the only son of Eugene and Mildred Tinnell. As a young man, Bob Tinnell was always known as "Bobby Gene". Being the youngest sibling by 11 years and the only boy, his sister, Cora, remembers that Bobby Gene was spoiled rotten and he always got whatever he wanted.

Morris, Mildred, and Bobby Gene went with Cora, and her new husband, Bobby, to South Carolina for their honeymoon. On the way back, Bobby Gene was most excited when he saw the "Welcome to Virginia" sign. He grabbed Cora around the neck from the back seat and yelled out "We are back in Virginia! We are back in Virginia!"

As a teenager in Lovingston, Bobby Gene worked at Floyd's Grocery Store. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and served for eight years as a firefighter. He served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia and upon his return stateside, he was assigned as an instructor at the USAF Fire Fighting School at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. Bobby Gene's birthday is August 20th and he happened to be on leave and visiting his mother on that day in 1969. He was scheduled to return to his base the next day when Hurricane Camille hit Nelson County that night. He was able to get his mother and her dog out of their mobile home as the floodwater was rising rapidly. He then waded back into the water to get two small children out of a nearby mobile home before all of the homes were washed away in the flood.

After his discharge from the Air Force, he served as a firefighter for over 20 years at Fort A.P. Hill and rose to the rank of Captain. He retired as the Deputy Fire Chief.

After retiring from firefighting, he started a second career as a locksmith and worked at Mary Washington College for many years.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Houston.

He is survived by his wife, Gathel Lee Tinnell; two step-daughters, Brenda Lee Bowen and Ann Marie Blevins; his step-son, Bobby Gene Bowen, Jr.; his sisters, Cora Dean Fitzgerald of Appomattox and Mary Lee Simpson of Waynesboro; 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor John Campbell officiating.

Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston (434-263-4097).