Dr. Robert “Bob” G. Kendall, age ninety, a board-certified neurosurgeon and longtime community leader in Winchester, Virginia, died July 23, 2026, at The Willows of Meadow Branch.

He was born October 7, 1935, in Winchester, Virginia, son of Edward Jentry Kendall and Hazel Shanholtz Kendall. Dr. Kendall was educated in Winchester schools and graduated from John Handley High School in 1954. A talented student, he played clarinet in the All-State Concert Band, was a three-sport varsity letterman, and was two-time class president.

He attended the University of Richmond (B.S., Chemistry, 1958; pre-med) where he received several academic awards and honors and was, once again, a two-time class president. He went on to earn his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia (M.D., 1962). Following medical school, he completed an internship in mixed medicine (1962–63) and a residency in neurological surgery (1963–67) at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. He achieved National Board of Neurological Surgery certification in 1970.

Returning to the Shenandoah Valley in 1967, Dr. Kendall established Winchester Neurological Consultants, Inc. (1967) and founded Neurosciences Practices within Valley Health Systems. Over a decades-long career, he cared for patients across the region, serving at Winchester Medical Center, Medical Center City Hospital (Martinsburg, WV), Loudoun Memorial Hospital (Loudoun Co., VA), Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (Woodstock, VA), and Warren Memorial Hospital (Front Royal, VA). During that time, he served as both medical staff president and chief of surgery for Winchester Medical Center and held numerous committee chair positions. He retired in 1995 after twenty-eight years of practice.

Dr. Kendall’s professional associations included Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity; Gamma Sigma Epsilon National Honorary Chemistry Society; Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society; the American Medical Association; the Medical Society of Virginia and the Medical Society of Northern Virginia; VAMPAC; the Neurosurgical Society of the Virginias; the Congress of Neurological Surgeons; the American Association of Neurological Surgeons; the American Society of Neuroimaging; and the American Society of Neurosonology. Most notably, he was the founding chairman and chairman emeritus of the non-profit community agency organized to improve the community health of citizens in the Lord Fairfax Health District known as Our Health, Inc. He received the American Medical Association Foundation’s 2010 Jack B. McConnell, MD Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. This is a national award given annually to a senior physician who strives to increase medical access to the disadvantaged and uninsured.

Beyond medicine, he gave extensively through civic service, including serving on the board of directors for the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, being a Life Scout and directors committee member for the Boy Scouts of America, capital campaign committee member for the Youth Development Center in Winchester, committee member for the John Handley High School Archives/Museum. For more than 80 years he was an active member of Braddock Street United Methodist Church.

Bob was a lifelong Winchester resident who gave generously of his time, energy, and resources to make the community better. He grew up on Cork Street and Pleasant Valley Lane, graduated from Handley High School, raised his family in Whittier Acres, and left a lasting mark across the entire region. He was an engaged citizen, a loyal friend, and an invaluable help to many.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-seven years, Suzanne “Suzie” Barr Kendall, who passed away January 28, 2026.

He is survived by his sister, Betty Lou West of Brighton, CO, and his three children: Edward Gentry Kendall II of Fredericksburg, VA, Brent Riley Kendall of Sammamish, WA, and Kathryn Kendall Murphy of Winchester, VA. He had six grandchildren: Amy Elizabeth Kendall, Riley Kathryn Kendall, John Robert Kendall, Emily Hall Murphy, Sarah Margaret Murphy, and Hannah Elizabeth Murphy.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be at Omps Funeral Home on Amherst Street on August 5, 2026, at 11:00am, with a reception to follow. Service will be officiated by Reverend Frank Sherman. A visitation with family will be held at Omps Funeral Home on August 4, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Our Health, Inc and Blue Ridge Care.