Robert “Bob” Martin Artz of Woodstock, Virginia, passed away in the early morning
hours of November 8th, 2022, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A
graveside service with military honors and masonic rites will be held Thursday,
November 10 at 1:00 p.m. at Sunset View Memorial Gardens in Woodstock. Pastor
Nathan Robinson will officiate.
Robert was born on April 15th, 1930, in Strasburg, Virginia. He was the youngest
son of Charles M. Artz and Elizabeth D. Artz. In his youth, Bob enjoyed playing
baseball, working at Vaughan’s Drug Store, Boy Scouts, and hustling as a pool
shark. The outbreak of World War II caused Bob’s late brothers, Harold Hopewell
Artz and Charles Mackell Artz Jr. to fight in the Pacific and the Atlantic, respectively.
This forced Bob to work and help provide for the household as a 12-year-old boy.
Bob graduated from Strasburg High School in 1947. At 18 years of age, he left home
on Christmas day to work on the Southern Railway. Several years later he was
drafted into the United States Army in which he worked as a telegraph operator in
the Signal Corp during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged after the war
and went back to work on the Southern Railway for 30 years. After leaving the
railroad, he was employed in transportation for Johns Manville, and Lee High in
Fairfield.
Bob is survived by his lifelong sweetheart, Emma Lou Artz whom he married on
October 23, 1951, and enjoyed 71 years of marriage to her; daughter, Suzanne Lee
Artz McIlwee (Robert); grandsons, Brian J. Loveland (Mackenzie) and Robert S.
“Bobby” Loveland (Nicole); step granddaughter, Jennifer McClanahan (Jerry); two
great grandsons, John Brian and Lucas Chance Loveland.
Bob’s hobbies included coin collecting, coaching little league baseball, and working
outdoors. He helped maintain the Liberty Furnace Farm for many years and was
most proud of this accomplishment. Bob is a Mason (over 60 years of service). He
mentored many men in the belief to make the world a better place through
Freemasonry.
Bob was devoted to his family and proud of his grandsons. He will be sorely missed
by his family and friends for his quick wit, high moral standard, and support to
everyone around him.
The family would like to thank Greenfield Reflections of Woodstock for all of their
love, support, and care given to Bob.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may go to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N.
Michigan Ave, FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street,
Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.