Retired Petersburg educator Robert Gordon Churn dies

Retired educator Robert G. Churn dies

When Bobby Churn retired in 1988 from Richard Bland College after 14 years as dean of student affairs, students recalled things they liked about him:

Robert Gordon Churn, who in retirement went from working with his first passion, students, to his other, animals, died at age 83 on Thursday in a Petersburg hospital of complications from a stroke and heart attack. He had been in failing health since suffering a brain hemorrhage three years ago.

A memorial service for the Petersburg resident will be held today, Monday, at 2 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 419 Washington St. in Petersburg, where he served as an elder and committeeman. A private burial will be held in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg.

Mr. Churn used the GI Bill for college. A history major, he graduated in 1951 from Randolph-Macon College, where he was an all-state baseball player and team captain his senior year, with an eye to teaching. He later earned a master's degree in education at the University of Virginia.

Mr. Churn started teaching history in 1951 at the all-grade Waverly School in Waverly before returning to his native Petersburg to teach at Petersburg High School, where he had lettered in football, basketball and baseball. During the next 18 years, he taught, coached baseball, was athletic director and eventually served as assistant principal.

He was principal of Dinwiddie County High School before going to Richard Bland College.

Since his retirement, the World War II Marine Corps veteran of the Okinawa and China campaigns had golfed and devoted himself to animal-welfare issues. He served for about eight years as CEO of the SPCA of Petersburg and Colonial Heights and worked to improve animal shelters in Prince George and Dinwiddie counties as well.

"He had a heart full of compassion," his wife said. "Anything needing help that was two-legged or four-legged, he was there."

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Brown of Colonial Heights, and two grandsons.