Reverend Richard Arthur "Skip" Whitcomb, 77, of Roanoke, passed away quietly and peacefully, in the presence of family, on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at Lewis Gale Medical Center. He will be extremely missed by family, but they are rejoicing in the knowledge that he is now, forevermore, in the presence of the Lord Jesus he so loved and diligently served. Reverend Whitcomb was born July 11, 1930, in Melrose, Massachusetts, the son of the late Richard F. Whitcomb and the late Ruth Sager Whitcomb. He graduated June 5, 1953, from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in Engineering and was married June 6,, 1953, to his sweetheart, Sheila Campbell Whitcomb (who had been smitten by his beautiful smile and gentlemanly ways some months before). He attended submarine school and served on several submarines, as well as surface ships. His shore duties included a tour as Provost Marshall on Taiwan. He was a Vietnam veteran and retired from the Navy, June 30, 1973, as a Lt. Commander. After retirement he attended Christ For the Nations, a Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas, where he served as Assistant to the Director of Family Affairs, later becoming the Dean of that department. From 1980 to 1994, he pastored Risen Savior Fellowship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there, he played an instrumental part in establishing a pastoral fellowship for the Milwaukee area pastors and was also heavily involved in the Milwaukee March for Jesus chapter. During that time, overseas ministry trips included Nigeria, Mexico and England. In early 1994, he retired from pastoring, and with Sheila, made the move to Roanoke, to be closer to family. There, he then proceeded to organize and found the Roanoke area chapter of March for Jesus and headed MFJ for several years. During that time he also attended a Roanoke chapter of Jacksonville Theological Seminary where he attained his Masters and Doctorate in theology. Later the Rev. Whitcomb became a teacher in that same chapter. He has been a committed lay member, and for a season a Board Member, of Maranatha Fellowship. He was also a founding board member of his son, Rick Whitcomb's ministry, Agape Gospel Mission, and remained in emeritus until his passing. He was an avid golfer, loved to bake, garden, study scripture, praise God, and in later years, loved to go on daily walks. He was always willing to help family or friends in any way he could, but he will be remembered first and foremost, though, for his love of God. He was constantly looking for and taking any opportunity to share his faith with anyone he could and was always encouraging family to love the Lord, to be joyful in the Lord, and above all else, to be diligently seeking Him.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Elaine Whitcomb; and by one granddaughter, Amara Ruth Probus.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Sheila Campbell Whitcomb, of Roanoke; was a loving father to Karen Probus, of Manassas, Heidi Ann Holland, of Stanley, and Richard C. Whitcomb, of Accra, Ghana in West Africa; 23 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren who adored him; his Aunt Florence, of Vermont; and three cousins.
Visitation will be held at Maranatha Fellowship, Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral service conducted by Pastor Roger L. Graves Sr. at 11 a.m. Interment will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at Culpeper National Cemetery with Military Honors. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Allen Probus, Andrew Holland, Nathan Probus, Daniel Probus, David Holland, Matthew Holland, Timothy Probus, and Rich Whitcomb. The family is requesting that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to Maranatha Fellowship, 2715 Green Ridge Road, Roanoke, Va. 24019, for the Richard A. Whitcomb Memorial Fund. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel, 540-362-1237.
Published in the Roanoke Times on 3/23/2008.