Obituary: Raymond C. Robertson

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Retired Staunton Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond C. Robertson died April 21. He was 80.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Robertson’s family moved to Portsmouth in 1951, where he attended St. Paul’s Catholic School. The family moved to Richmond in 1959, where Mr. Robertson attended Midlothian High School. He graduated from Midlothian High School in 1961 as class valedictorian.

Mr. Robertson continued his education at the University of Richmond, where he served as sophomore class president, student government treasurer, captain of the debate team and president of the Omicron Delta Kappa fraternity. He later attended the University of Virginia Law School, where he graduated in 1968.

Following law school, Mr. Robertson moved to Staunton, where he initially worked as a middle and high school social studies teacher. He later started a private practice, which transitioned to a full-time criminal law practice.

Mr. Robertson was first elected Staunton’s commonwealth’s attorney in 1973, a post he would hold for 11 consecutive terms. Upon his retirement in 2018, he was the second-longest serving commonwealth’s attorney in Virginia history. As commonwealth’s attorney, he was instrumental in starting the local drug court as well as the Valley Alcohol Safety Action Program, which aims to decrease the number of impaired drivers.

Apart from work, Mr. Robertson self-published four books, including books on his memories of specific court cases.

An active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Mr. Robertson taught classes and seminars at the parish and served as a member of the parish council.

In retirement, Mr. Robertson enjoyed sailing the seas and traveling to foreign destinations.

Mr. Robertson is survived by his wife, Carroll; his children, Tarenne, Raymond, Andrew and Anthony; his siblings, Ruth, Barbara and Michael; and his grandchildren, Matthew, Miley, Kiley, Clare, Luke, Seraphina, Genevieve, Simon and Nevan.