Dr. Robert Shepard Inglis, Jr.

Dr. Robert Shepard Inglis, Jr., 95, of Plymouth, North Carolina, left us peacefully on May 23, 2025. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather (better known as “Rob Bob”), he will always be remembered for his faith in God and love for others.

Born on October 18, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bob grew up with loving parents, Robert and Mary Inglis, and his younger sister, Jeanne. Being born on the precipice of the Great Depression, he learned from his parents to be kind to those in need and have faith that God will see you through. When he wasn’t running around with his sister and cousins, Bob was an entrepreneur. He cared for lawns and shoveled coal, but would help widows for free. He would collect tin cans with the Boy Scouts during World War II, and help his family with their Victory garden. He was active as an Eagle Boy Scout, and after graduating high school, Bob pursued a military career with the Coast Guard. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut and married Virginia (Gini) Siegfried in 1953. He loved traveling and serving on transatlantic voyages and running supplies out of Sitka, Alaska. After three years, he retired honorably as a Lieutenant Junior Grade with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and devoted the next portion of his life to raising his three daughters, Ivy, Elizabeth, and Amy, with Gini.

A brilliant aerospace engineer, he landed a job working with NASA through General Electric. The goal: land the first men on the moon. After the success of this mission, Bob and the family moved to Alabama where he worked as a manager at the Gulf States Paper Corporation. Despite his engineering prowess, he worked developing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the University of Alabama while pursuing his Master and Doctorate degrees in Higher Education - Roll Tide. Dr. Bob accepted a position at Palm Beach Atlantic College (now University) heading up the Rinker School of Business. He considered teaching his gift, and loved to work with anyone willing to learn, including many students who he never did forget.

After 34 wonderful years of marriage, Gini passed suddenly, leaving a hole in Bob’s heart. A blind date set-up by the college President and his wife (Foster and Mary Anne Harwell) with their sister led to Bob meeting the second love of his life, Lucy. After a whirlwind friendship, and only six weeks, the two were married in Virginia Beach - a marriage which lasted thirty-five years. Together they raised their daughter, Mary Eunice, and son, James Shepherd, in Maryland, Florida, Texas and Colorado, while caring for their parents and many grandchildren along the way.

North Carolina was the final place Bob called home. Rob Bob loved watching his grandkids grow and lifting people up in prayer. He was strong and determined until the end, and had a faith that rivaled the Biblical greats. He will always be remembered for being “fine”, “sewing buttons on ice cream cones”, and having a deep love for blue crab and Alabama football. There wasn’t a moment where he didn’t want to learn something new or tackle a challenge with enthusiasm. He “tucked and rolled” his way through life, and was a true Renaissance man. God and his family are what he lived for, and we thank God that we,, as his family know where he is today.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille Inglis; his daughters, Ivy Walker, Amy (husband Stevens) Peirsol, and Mary (husband Chris) Inglis-Chatfield; his sons, Larry Martin Jones II (wife Holly), Benjamin Jones, John (wife Veronica) Johns, and James (wife Sarassa) Inglis; his grandchildren, Jenny (husband Jacob) Posey, Stephanie Walker, Amy (husband Titus) Nelson, Katherine Walker, Virginia (husband Te’) Deffour, Larry Martin Jones III, Zak Jones, Sam Jones, Zoe Jones, Jackson Jones, Katherine Lucille Jones, Alivia Jones, Ava Jones, Nadia Jones, Blake Shepherd Chatfield, Vincent Chatfield, Shepherd James Inglis, and Robert Charles Inglis; and his great-grandchildren, Emma Rey, Abel Posey, Clara Posey, Ethan Posey, Danielle Posey, Simon Posey, Future Blessing Posey, and Jake Nelson.

He is preceded in death by Robert S. Inglis, Sr., Mary Gray Inglis, Jeanne (and her husband Arthur) MacCorkle, Virginia Inglis, Elizabeth Gremmels, Robert Rey, and Glen Walker.

The Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, on Monday, June 2, 2025. Luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Philippi Church of Christ in Creswell, North Carolina, or your own local church, in memory of Bob.

To hear more about Bob’s life in his own words, go to Robert Inglis-Life Story by James Inglis on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/7vnBB3X9EOlGVyVQHyf29L?si=80332a5dd7be4c50

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, NC is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com