Robert J. Troknya Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Robert J. Troknya passed away on December 12, 2021, at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, in Woodbridge, VA at the age of 89. Robert was born on August 2, 1932. He was born and raised in Clay Center, Ohio. He was the eldest of four children. After high school he attended Bowling Green University, graduating with a degree in business. While in college Robert joined the ROTC. Upon graduation, he made the decision to make military service a career. After commissioning as an officer in the Army he met his wife, Vonne Delle Johnson in Chicago. They were married for 65 years and raised four daughters. During his time in the service, he was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was an honor graduate from the Special Forces Warfare School and later deployed to Iran. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired after 24 years of service. After his retirement from the Army, he had a successful career in finance and insurance, earning the Blue Vase Award. During his later years, he received great joy from becoming a popular substitute teacher for Prince William County Schools, primarily at a middle school. There he was known as “Mr. T.” by the students and was often recognized and greeted by students when he was out and about. Throughout his life he was an avid sportsman, enjoying pursuits such as fishing, hunting, boating, rock hunting, and gardening. Robert’s sense of service continued in his later years through his support of various charities, including becoming a founding member of The National Museum of the United States Army. He was preceded in death by his younger sister, Nancy, and his beloved grandson, Douglas. He is survived by his wife Vonne and his four daughters - Kimberly (Mark) Cross, Roberta (Robbie) Phillips, Rebecca (Joe) Piemontese, and Mary Beth (Randy) Spaulding; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren (with two more expected in 2022). A memorial service will be held at Miller Funeral Home on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. An interment with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project woundedwarriorproject.org or Tunnel to Towers Foundation t2t.org .

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Robert J. Troknya

December 12, 2021