Obituary of Barbara Anne Transou Martindale

Barbara Anne (Transou) Martindale, age 89, of Roanoke, VA., went to meet our heavenly father on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 surrounded by loving family.

Barbara (Bobbie) was born in Winston-Salem, N.C. on December 24, 1931, the daughter of Mary Lucy (Pierce) Transou and Clyde Aurelius Transou.

Bobbie is survived by her loving husband, William (Bill) Martindale; daughter, Mary Bell and husband, Lowell of Loudon, Tenn.; son, Gary Martindale and wife, Christi of Salem, Va.; grandchildren, Chris and Cameron Martindale, Patricia Shelton, Dustin and Amanda Butler, Michael Tewell, Jamie Tewell Hogan, Summer Tewell Cannon, and Shelbie Tewell Estrada; Kaileigh Yancey.  She is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, William Allman; her son, Mark Thomas Tewell; her daughter, Lee Ann (Tewell) Butler; and her grandson, Joshua Shelton.

She grew up in N.C., moving to VA. in her teenage years and graduating from Roanoke Catholic High School.  After graduation, she worked at C&P Telephone Company from 1950-51 as a telephone operator, then moving to Washington, D.C. working as a search clerk at the FBI for criminal investigative purposes from 1951-1955.  She then moved to Indianapolis, working as a Grocery office clerk, and raising her first three children.

Bobbie moved back to Roanoke, VA. in 1963 and went back to work at C&P Telephone Company in 1964.  She met her loving husband, Bill, the same year at the Moose Lodge where they both loved to dance.  She married Bill on April 7, 1967, and five years later welcomed their son, Gary.  Bobbie continued to work at the phone company as an operator, a clerk, and then in the repair department.  She also served as a CWA union representative during her time there.  She retired from C&P on December 31, 1992.  She wasn’t one to stop working though, so she started a new career at Atlantic and Pacific Telecom through 2003, and then took her last job at age 72 for United Healthcare as a Medicare Customer Service Rep truly retiring in 2004.  Bobbie also held membership in the Telephone Pioneers Organization (>30 years).

Bobbie was known to everyone for her kindness.  She always made you feel good about yourself and kept a positive outlook no matter what adversity she faced. She will be greatly missed.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, November 6, 2021 from 3 until 5 pm at Simpson Funeral Home Peters Creek Road Chapel.