Rob Vandall, Navy veteran and longtime airline man, dies at 54
Born on leap day in Beckley and raised in Brookville, he served his country, worked close to 30 years on the airline ramp and leaves a big family behind.
Robert Randolph “Rob” Vandall IV, a U.S. Navy veteran who spent close to 30 years with Continental and United Airlines, died Aug. 30, 2026. He was 54.
He was born Feb. 29, 1972, in Beckley, West Virginia, the Vandall family’s hometown. A leap-day baby, he saw his birthday on the calendar only 13 times in his life.
Rob spent his elementary school years at Huddleston Elementary in Peachtree City, Georgia. He finished growing up in Brookville and graduated from Brookville High School in 1990. He went straight into the Navy, where he served six years as a fire controlman, the sailors who run and maintain a ship’s weapons-control systems.
After the Navy he went to work for Continental Airlines, first in Columbus, and it was there that he eventually talked Missy into marrying him. Together they traveled the world and lived the full Disney life, and they took to heart making sure their kids had it better than they did.
He moved to Florida in 2015 and worked as a ramp agent in Orlando. By then, Continental had been absorbed by United Airlines.
Family
Rob was the son of Robert “Bob” Vandall III and Janet Sue. He leaves his children, Erica Costa (Waggoner), Oscar and Charlotte; his former wife, Missy Waggoner; his sister, Ruth Renee Swigart, her husband, Kevin Swigart Jr., and their daughter, Autumn; and his brother, Rich.
He also leaves his aunts Joyce Halsey Erickson, Joan Engel, Elizabeth Vandall, Jerri Hartsock and Susan Vandall Clark; his nieces Madison Shaw and Chelsey Dietz; his nephew Carter White; his cousins Jason Erickson, Noah Aliff, Paula Clark White and Angela Engel; and many friends who will be telling his stories for years.
Services
Rob was cremated. The family graciously invites you to celebrate Rob’s life on Saturday, November 14th, 2026, at Piney View Bible Church, 2034 Stanaford Road, just outside Beckley, West Virginia. Details are on the celebration of life event page.
Memories and photos of Rob can be shared on his Page 4 tribute wall or by email to thedespoilerdayton@proton.me.
◆ ◆ ◆
Rich Vandall, Rob’s brother, is the founder of The Despoiler.
See Rob’s photos and leave a tribute → Print this eulogy (PDF)