Robert Harvey Markley

Robert Harvey Markley, 84, of Slanesville, WV, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, while surrounded by his children and his beloved sister.

Robert (Bob) was born on October 13, 1938, in Union, West Virginia, son of the late Lee and Geneva (June) Markley.  He was a 1956 graduate of Greenbrier High School and later attended  the West Virginia Institute of Technology .  He worked for NASA at the Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland as an engineer and project support manager for more than 20 years before retiring back to his home state of West Virginia in 1995. 

Having raised their family in the suburbs of D.C., Bob and his wife, Joy (deceased ), built a log cabin on the North River  in  Ice Mountain where Bob loved to work in his shop while Joy spent her days quilting.  Bob was known as a man who could fix anything, and he always had time to help a neighbor build a shed, a friend  fix a car, or a child put a new tire on a bike.   Bob loved and was loved by his neighbors on Ice Mountain.  When a bridge was needed to ensure that residents could get out during floods, Bob engineered and helped build it.  When Bob was in the hospital, neighbors made sure that his cabin was looked after and his cherished dog, Raven, was cared for.

Bob was preceded in death by the love of his life, wife of 50 years, Joy Fay Markley.

Survivors include his son, Brian Markley (Kerri) of Mt Airy, MD; daughter, Lauren Markley (Pat) of Clarksville, MD; four grand children: Kyle and Jessica Markley, Becky Zick and Erin Larrabee; 2 great grandchildren; and sister, Norma Lee Markley.

A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held at the North River Mills United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 18, at 11:00 AM. Officiating will be Pastor Alanna McGuinn & Heather Rogers. Inurnment will be privately held at a later date.

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