Robert James Vanwingerden was steadfast, faithful, and strong. His identity was rooted in Jesus Christ, and all of his life decisions were based on his faith in the God of the Bible. He was born on July 11, 1960, in New Jersey. He was number 13 of 16 children. In June 1985, he married Denise Hayden and together they began Catoctin Mtn. Growers.

Together they had four children: William, Tyler, Christina, and Blake. He also had 8 grandchildren: Ryan, Brandon, William, Justin, Cora, Katherine, Cameron, and Isabella, whom he loved dearly. He and his family have attended Calvary Baptist Church in Westminster, Maryland since 2004.  Bob loved serving in mission work, specifically in Haiti and Africa, his deepest loves were simply working in his business and being with his family. In his later years, he was able to mix both as all of his children worked with him at Catoctin Mtn. Growers.

Bob was taken to the hospital on March 20th, 2026 after a workplace accident and went to be in the presence of the Lord on March 23rd, 2026. He was taken home to the Lord before the birth of Roberta Vanwingerden who will be born hopefully before the end of March. She is his 9th grandchild and his parents' 269th great-grandchild.

The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on  Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Uniontown Bible Church, 4272 Watson Lane, Union Bridge, MD 21791. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Bob's memory to Mount Airy Christian Academy, 16700 Old Frederick Road, Mt Airy, MD 21771,  https://mount-airy-christian-academy.square.site/ or  Mail checks payable to: New Market Baptist Church, 3200 Ridge Road, Westminster, MD http://bobvw.newmarketbaptistchurch.org/