Raymond C. Robertson

Raymond C. Robertson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Raymond B. Robertson and Ruth M. Robertson, née Ortgier. He was the oldest of their four children. Ray was eight years old when the family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia in 1951. He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School where he excelled in academics and made many life-long friends. The family moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1959. Ray graduated from Midlothian High School in 1961, having earned the honor of being class valedictorian. His education continued at the University of Richmond where he served as sophomore class president, student government treasurer, captain of the Intercollegiate Debate Team, and president of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership fraternity.

Upon graduation from the University of Virginia Law school in 1968, Ray moved to Staunton where he fell in love with and married his wife of 49 years, Carroll Robertson, née Royer. Before starting a private practice as an attorney, and serving as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Ray taught government, geography, and history at Beverley Manor Middle School and at Fort Defiance High School. His legal career eventually transitioned entirely to the full time practice of criminal law. His passion for justice and service to the community led to his election to become the city of Staunton’s Commonwealth Attorney for eleven consecutive terms. When he retired in 2018, he was the second longest serving Commonwealth Attorney in the history of Virginia.

Ray authored four books. Among these, the anecdotal Tips and Tales: A Peek at the Criminal Law, along with its sequel, More Tales from the Trenches. Those two are accounts of his favorite memories of specific criminal court cases. He also penned Drug Court: Making a Difference, which articulated his compassion and good sense, knowing that it is better to rehabilitate people with addiction problems so that they can go on to lead fulfilling and fruitful lives.

As a man of great faith, Ray was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish where he taught various classes, led seminars, and served as a member of the Parish Council.

For the last three years of his life, he fought pancreatic cancer with unbelievable fortitude. Ray lived much longer than his doctors predicted, and with his wife as his partner, sailed the seas, and traveled to many foreign destinations, making new friends along the way. His spirit was indomitable, his faith unshaken. He had the wisdom to know when God was calling him home. His soul was at peace.

In addition to his wife, Carroll, he is survived by his daughter, Tarenne, his sons and their spouses: Raymond (Danielle), Andrew (Whitney) and Anthony (Lydia); his siblings: Ruth Atkinson (Harry), Barbara Carper (Bill) and Michael Robertson (Kim); and nine grandchildren: Matthew, Miley, Kiley, Clare, Luke, Seraphina, Genevieve, Simon, and Nevan.

The family would like to give special thanks to his countless caring and supportive friends, and most especially to the tireless team of doctors, nurses, and caregivers who attended Ray at UVA Health, Augusta Health, and at the Hospice Center of the Piedmont.

A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Staunton on May 3, 2023 at 10:00 AM. A Rite of Christian Burial will follow at Thornrose Cemetery at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105), a charity that Ray especially loved.