LOTTSBURG—Robert Calvin Keyser, 99, of Lottsburg passed away on the first of February 2025 after a brief illness, just four months shy of his 100th birthday.
Calvin was born in Lottsburg to the late James Aquilla Keyser and the late Olive Wilmore Keyser; and was the beloved husband of Laura “Ruth” Edwards Keyser. Calvin and Ruth were married for 67 years at the time of her passing. He was retired from Keyser Brothers Inc., the seafood business that he founded with his brother Norman. Calvin was a lifelong member of Coan Baptist Church where he became a deacon in 1955. At the time of his death Calvin was deacon emeritus.
With the exception of his time in service, he lived on the river at Honest Point. His business was also on the same property. Calvin loved the water. He raced speedboats, enjoyed baseball, bowling and rather competitive domino games. He was very proud of the business that he founded, and his work ethic was one he passed on to his daughters.
Calvin had a strong will to live. He survived World War II, where he served in the military police in Okinawa. In his 80s, he survived an attempt on his life and a quadruple bypass.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving daughters, Sharon Ruth Keyser and her husband, Phillip Brooks Hylemon, Janice Keyser Sherman and her husband, Christopher J. Sherman, and Lisa Keyser Peters and her husband, Roy Donald Peters; his grandchildren, Skylar Javin Sherman, Sonya Aubrey Sherman, Robert Donald Peters, Charles Reed Peters and Andrew Chandler Peters; his sister-in-law, Phyllis Edwards Gootee; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Loren J. Keyser and Norman A. Keyser.
A funeral service for Calvin was held on Sunday, February 9, at Coan Baptist Church with the Reverend Lee Farmer officiating. Following the service Calvin was buried beside his wife Ruth in the Coan Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to either Coan Baptist Church, P.O. Box 156, Heathsville, VA 22473 or to the Callao Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 82, Callao, VA 22435.
