On September 3, 2019 Robert “Bob” J. Andre, Jr. 81 of Bridgeport, WV, was called to the first tee of the heavenly fairways and hit a beautiful draw down the middle.
Bob was born in Clarksburg, WV on September 23, 1937. Bob graduated from Bridgeport High School and attended West Virginia University, where he spent 3 years studying forestry, while telling his parents he was studying physical therapy. While at WVU, Bob lettered on the rifle team and the golf team and, according to his stories, had a good time.
Eventually, Uncle Sam called and Bob answered. He served 3 years stationed at Fort Knox in what he called the “Brown Boot” Army and spent 6 years in the Army Reserve.
Throughout his life, Bob worked as an apprentice glass cutter at Adamston Flat Glass, inspector at Pittsburgh Plate, insurance sales for State Farm, pharmaceutical sales for Sandoz, tipple foreman for Bridgeport Mining and team equipment sales for Fultz Sporting Goods. Eventually, Bob’s strong will, independent spirit and entrepreneurial talent lead him to go into business for himself.
In the summer of 1983, he loaded up the truck and moved his family to Canaan Valley where he opened a restaurant called Peter Christian’s and built the Blackwater Center development. After what Bob called the hardest three years of his life, he sold the restaurant and began his career in real estate. Bob sold properties in Canaan Valley with Century 21, where he was recognized as the number 1 salesperson in the country.
Eventually, Bob became an independent broker operating RJA Realty. In addition to the real estate business, Bob ran a perfume and bath shop, built several spec houses and acted as legal secretary and book keeper for his son’s law office.
Bob had many friends and could often be found in the mornings holding court over coffee at Canaan Valley Stores, a tradition he continued after retiring and moving back to Bridgeport in 2005. He could often be found on Saturday mornings at Panera Bread offering a friendly word, a lively debate, an interesting story or a lamentation on the condition of things in the world today.
He was an avid golfer and was Club Champion at Bridgeport Country Club in 1968 and 1970. In addition to golfing, Bob was an accomplished skeet shooter and won the WV State Open in 1973. He enjoyed bird hunting and was lucky enough to have one great bird dog named “Gretchen” whose lineage is still running the hills of the tri-state area.
Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dottie Marsh Andre; his son Robert J. Andre, III Esq. and his wife Suzanne of Bridgeport; his daughter Michelle Andre Krieger, her husband Bill and two beautiful granddaughters Mallary and Maggie of Glen Burnie, MD; his sister Linda L. Gabriel and her husband Vic, his nephew Victor Allen and his niece Dr. Jaclyn Gabriel of Bridgeport. He was preceded in death by his father Robert J. Andre, Sr.; his mother Lola Gladys Franks Andre and his sister Brenda “Boo” Andre.
All his life Bob loved animals and the family requests, in lieu of flowers, that a donation be made to the Harrison County Humane Society in his memory.
A memorial service will be held at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 1 p.m.
