Robert Lee "Bob" Price, Jr.

Robert Lee "Bob" Price Jr., 89, of Salem, Va., completed his earthly mission and went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

He was the son of the late Robert L. Price Sr. and Elsie Clifton Price and was born in Roanoke, Va., on February 11, 1935.

During his pre-teen years, Bob was an honorary member of the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew serving with his father as mascot where he was taught first aid and water safety. Bob graduated from Jefferson High School in 1954 where he lettered in football and track. This is where he met his first wife, Barbara J. Brooks Price (deceased). Bob and Barbara were voted "Cutest Couple" of the Class of 1954.

While in high school, at the age of seventeen, Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves where he served his country for eleven years. Bob was selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to have his picture displayed on their national recruiting poster across America in 1960. It was during this period of time when he started working on his construction career.

After graduation from high school, Bob attended Emory and Henry College for one year before transferring to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he graduated with a B.S. degree in building construction in June of 1961.

Bob and Barbara were married in 1955. During their 49 years of marriage, they were blessed with two children, Deborah Lynn Price Smith (Mike Smith, deceased) and Robert Lee Price III (Linda Price); four grandsons, Seth Price (fiancée, Melissa Horan), Geoffrey Price Smith (Nicole Smith), Dr. Aaron Price, and Ben Price (Marci Price); and three great-grandchildren, Grayson Smith, Hank Price, and Gracelynn Price.

Bob began his professional construction career in 1960 as an estimator for a general contractor in the Roanoke area. After working six years with that firm, he had the opportunity to help establish and serve as president of a general contracting firm located in Roanoke, Va., and built several prominent buildings over a twenty-year span. It was during those years that he met and worked with his second wife, Lillian H. Shelley "Lil" whom he married in 2004 after both lost their spouses due to illness.

Bob and his son, Bob III, established their own general contracting business, R.L. Price Construction Co., Inc. in 1990 and have their offices in Salem, Va. Bob retired from that business in 2010 after fifty years of being in the building business. He was Vice-President of the Roanoke Valley Association of General Contractors of America.

Bob enjoyed traveling and riding motorcycles with family and friends and was a member of the Roanoke Valley Retreads and Salem Chapter X Gold Wing Road Riders motorcycle clubs. Bob and Lil, both in their late seventies, along with another couple, took the "ride of a lifetime" traveling by motorcycle across the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, traveling ten thousand miles over the course of forty-two days. Later, on other trips, they toured the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico by motorcycle.

Bob loved his Lord. He was baptized in Grandin Court Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, was ordained a deacon, and served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons. Bob moved his membership to Virginia Heights Baptist Church, serving on the Board of Deacons for several years before becoming a member of the Melrose Baptist Church where he is currently a member.

Bob was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in October of 1968, served as Worshipful Master in 1974, and District Deputy Grand Master in 1986. He served the Grand Lodge of Virginia as District Education Officer for District No. 22 and was Grand Tiler for the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1993. Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Elmwood Royal Arch Chapter No. 33, Bob served as High Priest and District Deputy Grand High Priest for District No. 8. He was a member of Murray Royal Arch Chapter No. 22 and D.C. Shanks Chapter No. 31, and in 1991, became a lifetime member of the Grand Council of Anointed High Priests in Virginia. He served as a member of Virginia Chapter, Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor, Virginia Chapter.

Bob was created a Knight Templar in Bayard Commandery No. 15, served as Commander and District Deputy Grand Commander for District No. 6 and was a member of the Bayard Drill Team. He was the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia 2003 – 2004, awarded Knight Commander of the Temple (K.C.T.) by the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the U.S.A. Bob served as Grand Representative of Louisiana near the Grand Commandery and was made an honorary member of the Grand Commandery of K.T. of Louisiana. He was a member of Rose of Sharon Priory No. 2 Knights of York Cross of Honor (K.Y.C.H.) with one quadrant, Grand Council Allied Masonic Degrees, Big Lick Council No. 212 where he served as Sovereign Master and a member of Alpha Star Council No. 71 A.M.D.

Bob was a member of Fort Andrew Lewis Council No. 81 Knights Masons and served as Excellent Chief. He was a member of Wilderness Road York Rite College No. 94 where he served as Governor and was named Associate Regent by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America and awarded the Order of the Purple Cross (O.P.C.) in July of 2000. Bob received the Gold Honor Award from York Rite Sovereign College of North America in June of 2003. He was elected to become a member of St. Cornelius the Centurial Conclave Red Cross of Constantine and served as Puissant Sovereign.

Bob was a member of Etta Chapter No. 185 Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron and Chaplain numerous times.

The International Order of DeMolay made Bob an honorary member for life of the DeMolay Legion of Honor in June of 2003. Bob was an honorary member of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Kentucky, an honorary life member of the Grand York Rite Bodies of Freemasonry of the State of North Carolina, as honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, and an honorary member of Lynn Commandery No. 9 in Marion, Va. Other Masonic affiliations include Valley of Roanoke, Scottish Rite Bodies where he received his 32nd Degree, past member of Kazim Temple Motor Escort A.A.O.N.M.S. of Roanoke, Va., and a member of the Virginia College Masonic Societas Rosicrucians in Civitatibus.

The Funeral Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Oakey's North Chapel. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, 3201 Cross Timbers Road, Building 4, Suite 300, Flower Mound, TX 75028. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.Oakeys.com.