In Memoriam - Robert Rene Monast (SFC, USA Ret)

ARRINGTON — Robert Rene Monast, 52, of Arrington, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at his residence. He was born May 26, 1958, in Massachusetts, a son of Shirley Day Monast and the late Roger A. Monast.

A member of the 82nd Airborne, he was a recruiter, retiring in 1996 with 21 years of service. Since then, he worked in construction.

In addition to his mother he is survived by his wife, Tammy M. Monast of Arrington; one son, Robert Monast Jr. and his wife, Whitney, of Staunton; three daughters, Kerri Wood and husband, Andy, and Julie Stokes, all of Waynesboro, and Kristina Monast of Lovingston; four stepchildren, Kenny and Christina Wyant, and Suzanne and Scott Hewitt; four sisters, Gail Bilbo and Bonnie Raines, both of Waynesboro, Pam Reed and husband, Charlie, of Sherando, and Janet Geary of Pennsylvania; two brothers and their wives, Roger and Susan Monast of Florida and Michael and Becky Monast of Lovingston; four grandchildren, Gage Wood, Shuggie Monast, Wyatt Wood and Hailey Stokes; 12 nephews; and 7 nieces.

A service will be conducted at noon Thursday, March 3, 2011, at McDow Funeral Home by Mr. Bob Gaylor and Mr. Mac Blackwell. Interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, with military honors.

Active pallbearers will be Chris Bilbo, Tommy Gunn, Robbie Harada, Eric Lang, Jamie McLean and Bobby Monast.

Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Reed and Kenny Wyant.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at McDow Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the the family to assist with final expenses.

Condolences may be shared online at www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.

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Bob Monast was always a good friend to me. We met in February 1981 when I went into the armory to enlist in the National Guard. Two years later we began a fruitful partnership that took Detachment 1 Company A 3-116th Infantry from 0% to 100%+ strength in less than 3 years. When Bob left for an in-service recruiting position about 1993 he had enlisted something more than 900 soldiers in the Virginia National Guard. He always gave at least the outward appearance of being upbeat and positive and we had some interesting experiences with some of the prospects that came to his office.