THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260254
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 50 lines
Robert Martin Harcourt Sr., 72, of the 900 block of Sherry Ave., died after a long illness on Sept. 24, 1996, in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
He was born in Kansas City, Mo., and lived in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area most of his life. Mr. Harcourt served in the Navy during World War II and was a Norfolk police officer from 1949 to 1954 while he prepared for the Virginia State Bar Association.
On Sept. 7, 1954, he graduated from LaSalle Extension University and was the last person to receive a waiver in the State of Virginia and be accepted to the Virginia State Bar with an extension degree.
In his active years, he was a Democratic precinct committeeman for the 36th Precinct, a member of the Norview High School Booster Club, and an avid supporter of the sports program, especially wrestling, basketball, and football. He scouted for the U.S. Naval Academy football team and was listed in Who's Who in Tidewater.
A genealogist, he researched and prepared over 200 pages of Harcourt family history. His hobby as a genealogist led him to the research and preparation of over a dozen volumes of Harcourt family history.
Mr. Harcourt was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and a Training Union Director for Fox Hall Baptist Church (now Cornerstone) and Norview Baptist Church of Norfolk. In recent years he was a member of the Kempsville Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach where he led an evening Bible study and served on the Diaconate as church treasurer during his term.
Poor health resulted in an early retirement from the Virginia Bar Association and an end to all his volunteer work.
He was the last of five sons of his 98-year-old mother, Ida Turrentine Harcourt, who resides in Springfield, Mo. Other survivors include his wife, Betty Brett Harcourt of the residence; three sons, Robert Martin Harcourt Jr. of Williamsburg, Jack E. Harcourt and Paul Brett Harcourt, both of Virginia Beach; a daughter, Lois Kay Myers of Apache Junction, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren and many loving relatives and friends.
A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens by Dr. Charles Wickman, the Rev. James Nowell and the Rev. Lawrence Brett. The family will be at 2489 Lemans Way, Virginia Beach, after the graveside service and at 905 Sherry Ave., Virginia Beach, at all other times. A memorial service will be held in Kempsville Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall after the memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kempsville Presbyterian Church's Deacon Fund, Hope Haven, the Samaritan House, the U.S.O., or any charity of your choice. Graham Funeral Home, South Norfolk Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB