Robert "Bob" "Bobby Joe" Joseph Surratt
Life Story
Robert Joseph Surratt, son of Wanda Dean Trantham and James Hardin Surratt Jr., was born on 1 November 1947 in Grundy, Buchanan County, Virginia. In 1950, Robert Joseph aka Bobby Joe age 2 lived with his grandparents Edward Charles Trantham age 40 and Effie Wilma (McCoy) Trantham age 40 as well as his aunt Ramona Jean Thompson age 22, and his cousins James D. Thompson age 5 and Earl W. Thompson about 8 or 9 months old (born in July). His mother Wanda had one more child, Carolyn Surratt, with James before they separated. Wanda later married William Mark Dorn giving birth to Bob and Carol's half-siblings including Dian, Teresa, Mark, and Renee.
Robert Joseph Surratt volunteered to serve in the military, enlisting on 9 August 1966. Grandpa Bob met Sandy through his sister Carol who invited her to a football game at Bonita Vista High. Bob and Sandy got married less than a year later on 20 July 1969 in National City, San Diego County, California. He served as a marine corporal until 30 July 1970. He was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Hawaii, and Vietnam. Bob and Sandy had two kids Walter Edward Surratt and Sarah Kaye Surratt. Their children were born in San Diego, California on 12 September 1971 (Walter) and 8 August 1973 (Sarah).
They later lived in Flagstaff, Arizona and Bend, Oregon. Bob and Sandy moved back down from Oregon to Campo, California to live with their son Walter, his partner Summer Gould, and little old me Autumn Rose Surratt. Grandpa Bob passed away at home in Campo, California on 18 September 2025. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor, positive attitude, and sense of adventure. Grandma Sandy says, "Life was never dull" with Bob.
Fun Facts
- His favorite chips were cheese puffs
- He earned a purple heart during his military service when he was shot in the leg
- Bob loved to read crime mystery and romance novels
- He enjoyed watching Judge Judy, Family Feud, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune
- Grandpa Bob loved to eat tacos as well as biscuits and gravy
- He had fun driving his trailer around the United States including Yellowstone, Death Valley, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and along the Oregon coast with his wife Sandy
- He enjoyed older country music like Johnny Cash
- Bob liked to fish
- He enjoyed playing games like uno and scrabble
- Bob worked many different jobs including as a janitor, security, ranger at Thousand Trails, delivery driver, Greyhound bus driver, and school bus driver in Flagstaff
- Grandpa Bob was very proud that he was married to Grandma Sandy for 56 years
Personality Cards
November 1, 1947 becomes 11+1+1947=1959 1+9+5+9=24 2+4=6
The Lovers (6) is a card of choice, unity, desire, and relationships. The Lovers is all about the balance between passion and responsibility when making decisions. Grandma Sandy says, "That sounds like him." Bob was always loving, and he thought that she had sexy legs. He was always telling her how pretty she is. Grandpa Bob enjoyed being around people. He was friendly and social.
Scorpio in sun sign astrology is shrewd, emotional, mysterious, and controlling. Scorpios are known for being private, willful, and loyal. They often have a keen penetrating insight into people's motives. Grandpa Bob always enjoyed reading murder mystery books trying to figure out who dunit. Death is the Major Arcana card associated with Scorpio. While often depicted as an omen of physical death in movies, it is actually just a symbol of transformation. Death pops up in readings when something is ending, and hints at a new beginning such as the loss of a job (the "death") that leads to a new career path. Bob was constantly embracing change trying lots of different jobs.
With love,
Autumn Rose Surratt
The Ancestor Witch
Sources
- "United States Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XB7-DV9S: 18 September 2025), Edward C Frantham and Effie Frantham, 13 April 1950.
- "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V66B-VG4: 18 September 2025), Robert J Surratt and Sandra K Meese, 1969.
- "Official Obituary of Robert Joseph Surratt November 1, 1947 - September 18, 2025", Balboa Cremation Services (https://www.villagecremations.com/obituaries/Robert-Joseph-Surratt: 21 September 2025), Robert Joseph Surratt, death 18 September 2025.
- info from my grandma Sandra Karen (Meese) Surratt and my dad Walter Edward Surratt
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