William "Bob" Jebson's Obituary
William Robert “Bob” Jebson, Jr. was born on August 4, 1933 and died on Wednesday, November 6 at the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community. The oldest of three sons, Bob was born in Newport News, Virginia, to the late William Robert Jebson, Sr. and Mary Ray Jebson. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1951 and Virginia Tech in 1955 with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. While in college he was Captain of the Highty-Tighties marching band, served in the ROTC and later, the Army Reserves. In 1955 Bob married his hometown sweetheart, the late Christina Atkins Jebson. They celebrated 50 years together before her passing in 2005.
Bob began his career at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. After that, he spent 16 years employed with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, during which he led the company’s entry into the manufacturing of water quality equipment, moving the Infilco Division of Westinghouse to Culpeper, where he served as Plant Manager. In 1973 his vision developed into his own company, Environmental Systems Service, LTD (“ESS”). Bob is considered a pioneer in the testing of water, wastewater, dairy products and food analysis.
Always community minded Bob was an active member of the Culpeper Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder of the Church, and a volunteer with the Presbyterian of the James Executive Council. Over the years he also served the community as: Chairman and member of the Board of Directors for the Culpeper Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees; President of the CMH Health Corporation, Culpeper Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer of the Culpeper Renaissance Inc.; and Vice Chairman of the Culpeper Community Trust. He also served as: Chairman of the Board of Virginia Commonwealth Trust Corporation, Co-Chairman of the Culpeper Community Business and Education Partnership (“Career Partners”) and a member of the St. Luke’s School board. In 1995, he was the recipient of the L. B. Henretty Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service to the Culpeper community.
Bob’s blood ran “orange and maroon” throughout his life as he continued to support Virginia Tech in many capacities, most enjoyably as a Hokie Football fan who spent countless fall days cheering for the squad in Blacksburg, VA. He was a member of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Committee of 100, and inducted into the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence in 2005. In 2009, Bob created the Jebson-Nystrom Science and Technology Writer in Residence Endowment at Virginia Tech. It is the first of its kind at a College of Engineering in the country.
Bob, a devoted family man, was known as “Kid” by his children, grandchildren and their friends. He effortlessly dedicated much time and energy to the people and things that he really loved and had a sense of humor that made everyone smile. He enjoyed golfing, model trains, his daily newspapers, gardening, sporting events, and most recently, spending mornings with his coffee group friends.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Howie Jebson; son, Craig Jebson and wife, Kim; daughter, Karen Carroll and husband, Marty, all of Culpeper. He is also survived by six grandchildren; Roque Castro and wife Beth, Nikki Jebson Deermount and husband Michael, Tiffany Jebson, Natalie Cocuzzi and husband Mike, Eddie Carroll and wife Christina, and Jeb Carroll, as well as several great grand children. He is also survived by, two brothers, Thomas Jebson and his wife, Bobbe Gray, of Newport News, Va. and Arthur Jebson and his wife, Mimi, of Williamsburg and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition he is survived by Sally’s children Cal Lea and wife Trish and Davis Lea and wife Kelly all of Maryland and Julia Godek and her husband Patrick of Louisa, Va. as well and their children and grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Friday, November 8 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper. A Memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at the State Theatre of Culpeper on Saturday, Nov 9 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s honor to the Culpeper Regional Hospital Foundation, 501 Sunset Lane, and the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community, P.O. Box 191, both in Culpeper, VA 22701.
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