Our community lost a pillar on Saturday, November 13, 2021, when Mr. Randolph “Randy” W. Brinkley, favorably known as “Mr. B,” passed away due to COVID-19 complications.
Randy was born on January 12, 1970 to Robert Franklin Brinkley and Glenda Scott Brinkley in Covington, VA. He graduated from Alleghany High School in 1988 where he joined and served in the U.S. Army National Guard for eight years. He has degrees from multiple universities including a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mary Baldwin and a Post-Masters degree as an Education Specialist from the University of Virginia. With that education, he began his teaching career in Roanoke City where he served for a year before transferring to Botetourt County. He served both at Central Academy Middle School and James River High school as the STEM instructor. During this time, he also was an adjunct professor for Virginia Western Community College through the dual-enrollment program providing high school students with opportunities for college credit.
Concurrently, he would form the first FIRST Robotics Challenge team in Botetourt County that touched the lives of many youth. The program brought together experts in STEM from all fields and degrees to foster STEM education, creativity, and problem-solving. One of the program’s tenets is gracious professionalism that is often explained as “compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process.” The team still runs and exists today. In 2016, he transferred to Salem City Schools servicing as the STEM instructor for Salem High School. Once he joined the Salem community as an instructor, he enhanced the FIRST Robotics Challenge team that he inspired during his time in Botetourt. Both teams qualified for the world championship of the league and won many awards across multiple levels.
Outside of his work for youth in school, he also served with the Boy Scouts of America. He coordinated expeditions to many locations across the United States. From the grand heights of the Tetons of Wyoming to the verdant swamps of Louisiana, he helped youth of the community experience the beauty of the United States and build strong moral character within them. Through these expeditions, the scouts camped, canoed, hiked, fished, scuba dived, sailed, and practiced survival skills on a tropical reserve island, swamp, and the mesas of New Mexico. He served as an Assistant Scout Master and High Adventure Coordinator for Troop 211. Through this position, he also shared his passion of the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and conservation with the scouts. With scouting, he also was a Mason at the local lodge and a Shriner who advocated heavily for the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
But above all, the role Randy enjoyed the most was that of being a father. He was an excellent father who raised his son to be a pillar of the community as well. Helping him become an Eagle Scout, a Mason, and a reliable friend to all.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Donna Lyn Brinkley; his son, Nathaniel Scott Brinkley; cousin, Karlee McCormack; aunt, Joyce Hawks; aunt, Sue Brinkley; his beloved cat, Aspen, and many other family and friends.
A reception in his memory will be held November 20, 2021 from 2-4 p.m. at the VFW near Fincastle, 4902 Roanoke Road, Daleville.
