Robert Christian “Chris” MeyerApril 14, 1955 – August 17, 2026

Robert Christian “Chris” Meyer, 71, of Gloucester, Virginia, passed away suddenly on August 17, 2026, and went home to be with the Lord.

Chris was a proud United States Navy veteran, storyteller, craftsman, outdoorsman, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be remembered for his quick sense of humor, fiercely independent spirit, endless curiosity, and the unmistakable presence he brought wherever he went.

Born April 14, 1955, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Chris was the youngest of nine children of William F. Meyer Sr. and Vieno M. (Keurulainen) Meyer. He grew up in the Lutheran faith and sang in the choir at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fitchburg as a boy.

At 18, Chris enlisted in the United States Navy, beginning a 20-year career that remained one of the great sources of pride in his life. He served as a Mineman and attained the rank of Mineman First Class, Petty Officer First Class (MN1/E-6). His service took him throughout the United States and overseas, where he earned numerous military honors and distinguished himself through his technical skill and leadership. Long after retiring from the Navy, Chris continued telling stories from his years in uniform, usually with plenty of humor and colorful detail.

While serving overseas, Chris met Nina “Annie” Meyer. They married in May 1980 in Olongapo, Philippines, beginning a marriage that would span 46 years. Their life together took them from the Philippines to Washington state and eventually to Virginia. Over the years, they shared motorcycles and music, fishing trips, gardens, chickens, good meals, family adventures, and the ordinary routines that make up a life together.

Chris loved the ocean, fishing, boating, shooting, drawing, woodworking, gardening, animals, and working with his hands. His Gloucester home reflected many of those interests, with gardens, animals, tools, fishing gear, woodworking, and an ever-changing collection of projects. There was almost always something he was building, fixing, researching, or planning next.

Family meant deeply to Chris, and he did not always define family by blood. He had a way of welcoming people into his life, remembering what was happening in theirs, checking on them, and making them feel that they mattered.

His daughter, Christina, remembers fishing with him, taking long drives, listening to music, and traveling through the mountains of Washington state. She will especially miss his famously long text messages, funny voicemails, big-fish stories, Navy stories, and the familiar way he called her “kiddo.”

Chris shared many of those same joys with his granddaughter, Selah. They loved fishing together, tending to the chickens, sharing stories about animals, showing one another their artwork and creations, and going out for ice cream.

One of the adventures Chris had most recently looked forward to was traveling to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to fish with his grandson Israel and meet his great-grandson Mateo—a plan that brought together several of the things he loved most: family, fishing, and somewhere new to explore.

Chris’s spirit of service extended beyond the Navy. While stationed in Washington state, he volunteered hundreds of hours as an Island County reserve deputy, including service with the Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Division, and he also gave his time to youth baseball and his community.

Chris is survived by his wife, Nina “Annie” Meyer; his daughter, Christina Adames, and her husband, Justin Adames; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brothers Edward Meyer and his wife, Ruth, and Randolph Meyer and his wife, Betty; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, and others whom Chris came to consider family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William F. Meyer Sr. and Vieno M. Meyer, and his siblings William Meyer Jr., Helen Bergeron, Daniel Meyer, Sandra Meyer, John Meyer, and Karen Meyer.

Chris will be remembered for his service, creativity, humor, love of the water and animals, and the many stories he leaves behind. His family will especially miss the ordinary things that were uniquely his—the unexpected phone calls, long texts, funny voicemails, projects he wanted to share, stories they had heard before but would gladly hear again, and simply knowing he was there.

There is fitting meaning in Chris’s family returning to Messiah Lutheran Church in Fitchburg, where he sang in the choir as a boy, to remember his life, give thanks for him, and rejoice in the promise of eternal life in Christ.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Following the service, Chris will be laid to rest with military honors in Winchendon, Massachusetts.