Robert Lee Polk, 65, of Little Rocky Run in Clifton, a retired General Counsel of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), died of complications of a heart condition on Jan. 22, at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax.
Mr. Polk was born and raised in Edinburg, Va., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from Berea College in Berea, Ky. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963 through 1969 and volunteered to go to Vietnam as an intelligence officer. Upon his discharge from active duty he attended George Washington University where he earned a degree in law.
He moved to Northern Virginia in the late-1960s, and was in private practice before joining the legal staff of Metro. Mr. Polk was employed with Metro for 22 years, including a period as acting General Manager. He received both the General Managers Award for Distinguished Performance and the General Managers Award in Equal Employment Opportunity while employed by Metro. He retired in 1999, although he kept membership in the Washington, D.C., and Virginia Bar Associations.
From 1987 he continuously volunteered as a coach for the Southwestern Youth Association softball and baseball programs, and was an avid supporter of youth sports. He was a member of the American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax. In his leisure time he enjoyed building and carpentry, watching his children play in local sports leagues, and arguing politics with his son.
Preceded in death by his brother Dennis Wayne Polk, survivors include his wife of 32 years, Barbara “Bobbie” Joann Leir Polk of Clifton; two children, Geoffrey Polk, of Clifton, and Melissa Lee Polk Kigin and her husband Ryan, also of Clifton; his parents Earl H. Polk Sr. and Virginia Catherine Helsley Polk of Edinburg, Va.; a brother Earl Jr. of Manassas; two sisters, Nancy Louise P. Bly of Edinburg, Va., and Peggy Geraldine Kinson of Front Royal; and numerous nieces and nephews, and their children.
Visitation was held at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home on Jan. 25, and funeral services are on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southwestern Youth Association softball and baseball programs, PO Box 471, Centreville, VA 20122.