Stalcup, Robert James

Robert James Stalcup, 94, of Blacksburg, Virginia, departed this earthly life on September 14, 2026. Bob, born November 9, 1931, in Mandan, North Dakota, was the last of five children born to E. Vere Stalcup and Lillian B. Stalcup, both of whom preceded him in death.

Also preceding him in death were his beloved wife, Donna L. Stalcup; his brothers, Claude and Gordon Stalcup of Fargo, North Dakota; his sisters, Lorraine Kendall of Ellendale, North Dakota, and Lois Muir of Fargo.

He grew up in both Ellendale and Fargo, North Dakota, where he and his brother, Gordy, enjoyed many adventures together. All who knew Bob enjoyed hearing him recount these tales. In fact, he was a phenomenal storyteller who shared many interesting life stories, often with great animation and vivid detail.

Bob was proud of his two years of enlisted service in the North Dakota Air National Guard and his four years in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Following his military service, he attended Huron College in South Dakota, where he received his B.A. It was there that he met Donna Kilker, who became the love of his life. He always credited her with “saving his life”—“putting him on the right track, and keeping him there.” They were married for 61 wonderful years before her passing in 2017.

He went on to earn both a M.A. and an Ed.D. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Bob began his career as a public school teacher and later served public and private higher education institutions as a professor, department chair, dean, and academic vice president. His distinguished academic career took him to Auburn University, the University of Denver, the National College of Education, Texas A&M University, the University of Nebraska, and Virginia Tech, from which he retired as Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Bob was a member of five honorary societies and seven professional associations, and served as President of the National Conference of Professors of Educational Administration. He published extensively and spoke on higher education across the United States, as well as in South Korea, Japan, and China.

He earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and was a 72-year member of both the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star. As a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, he was ordained as both a Deacon and an Elder. Bob was also an active member of the Torch Club of Montgomery County, serving twice as its President.

When the weather permitted, Bob could be found enjoying a round of golf with friends on any number of local courses. Cold weather would find him in his train room, working on his impressive HO gauge layout, which he named the D & B Railroad of Arlee, South Dakota. An avid reader, he almost always had one or two books in progress

We will deeply miss Bob’s sweet and endearing presence, his sharp wit, and his kind and generous ways. He was a true gentleman. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon L. Irvin (David) of Lincoln, Nebraska; his son, Scott R. Stalcup (Nancy Volk-Stalcup) of Lynchburg, Virginia; his grandchildren, Larissa Irvin (Gary Grinvalds) of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Lowell Irvin of Topeka, Kansas; his special friend, Nancy Felch of Blacksburg, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM on October 24, 2026, at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Sarah Wiles officiating. In lieu of flowers, our family invites you to honor Bob’s memory, as well as all the wonderful employees who were so good to him, with a gift to the Warm Hearth Foundation, 2387 Warm Hearth Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060 or retire.org. Your gifts will be earmarked to provide Warm Hearth employees with educational scholarships and emergency assistance.