Long Time Falls Church Resident Robert Macomber Dies at Age 87

On October 18th, Robert C. Macomber died at home in Falls Church after a long illness. He was 87 years old.

Mr. Macomber was a resident of the city for 41 years. Born in St. Louis, Mo, Mr. Macomber grew up in Detroit, MI. He graduated from Detriot Institute of Technology, and he later got his law degree from the Detroit College of Law. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II, and paticipated in the liberation of the Philippines. After the war he joined the Veterans Administration and served in that agency for nearly 40 years. He began his career with VA in the office in Detroit, and in 1963 he transferred to the VA Central Office in Washington, DC. While with VA, Mr. Macomber was noted for his work on the schedule for rating disabilities. After retiring from the VA in 1985, Mr. Macomber continued to serve veterans for another 12 years as a legal consultant. While at the National Headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Mr. Macomber served on a committee that developed the rules for the U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

For nearly 76 years, Mr. Macomber was a youth and adult member of the Boy Scouts of America. He served as Treasurer and Assistant Scout Master for Troop 895 of Falls Church Presbyterian Church. In 2001 he earned the Silver Beaver Award, Scouting's highest honor. Robert served for many years as Treasurer for the Falls Church Babe Ruth baseball association. He also helped with youth events at the Falls Church Community Center.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Dorothy, three children, Jeanne Macomber, Robert C., Jr., and Patricia Day, a grand child, Rebecca Day, and a great-grandchild, Christina Murphy.