In Memory of
Andrew Stephen
Denbow
Denbow
1994 - 2018
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Graham Funeral Home & Cremation Services
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Obituary for Andrew Stephen Denbow
Andrew Stephen Denbow, aka “Thundercat,” died unexpectedly in a dirt biking accident on Saturday, February 3, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 23.
Andrew is survived by his mom and dad, Marie and Gary Roberson; his cherished sister, Suzanne Denbow; his brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Stacey Roberson; his sister and buddy, Charlotte Roberson; his uncle, Lewis C. Trauffer; father, Stephen (Meredith) Denbow; his aunt Ellen Trauffer; his cousin, Stephen Trauffer and daughter Alaina; his aunt, Jenifer Washer; his uncle, Rick Denbow; his uncle, Randy Denbow; his cousins Michael, Mark, and Diane Denbow; and many, many friends and extended family members who loved him very dearly, and always will. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Suzanne and Lewis H. Trauffer, USN, ret., his uncle, Harry L. Trauffer, USMC, ret., and his grandmother, Ann Denbow. Andrew was born on October 23, 1994 in Norfolk, Virginia to Stephen Denbow and Marie (Denbow) Roberson. He graduated with honors from Kempsville High School in 2013 and was a senior at the William States Lee School of Engineering at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He was majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in motorsports. Andrew was a very industrious student, committed team-leader, and intellectually curious man. Friends tell us he was also a devoted and inspiring teammate, and helped lead his junior design team to receive the highest grade in the class for their robotics project - a welding robot. He was also an enthusiastic member of the UNCC Baja team, which competed in the Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Series. The Baja SAE series is an intercollegiate competition that requires students to build their own car from the ground up, and Andrew was excited to help build and race the UNCC Baja’s team first entrant in four years. Andrew had an unquenchable passion for motorsports. His enthusiasm as an adult took root at age 3 as a Bobbie Labonte NASCAR fan. Andrew reached out to Arena racing teams at age 10, then a Langley Raceway team, then as a young teenager he interned with Mitchum Motorsports of Virginia Beach. MMS took him all over the country working many crew jobs, including fueler which concerned his mother. {lol Andrew: “Oh Mom, don’t put that in”} This exposure to the world of racing enlarged his scope for a motorsports career which transitioned him into more hands-on roles as a data engineer for NASCAR. In fact, his supervisor at Mitchum was so impressed by the earnestness he demonstrated in his youth, that he hired Andrew to work with him on the Lamborghini Racing team as an adult. This particular job was a joyful milestone in his life of which he most proud.
As a child, Andrew was always passionate about moving parts and how they function together to form a perfect machine. He was first exposed to this concept in kindergarten, when his introduction to t-ball introduced him to the delicate dance of skill and teamwork required by sports. In 2003, his team, the Kempsville Marlins, won the recreational league championship, with his help as first basemen. He loved baseball and played it up until middle school. It was at this age that he began to reach out to the local racing teams to intern. As a Boy Scout, his zeal for all things automotive stoked when he competed in the Pinewood Derby. It was then that he was first exposed to the thrill of building and racing a creation of his own design, and this passion followed him throughout his life.
His Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering will be awarded posthumously in the spring. His friends will remember him as a hard-working, witty guy, who was liked and admired by all who met him. His family will remember him as the light of their lives, whose loss has created a profound void that will not be filled in this lifetime.
The family will receive friends at Graham Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake on Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 4 pm to 6 pm. A Celebration of Life funeral is scheduled for Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Kempsville Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach at 2pm. Immediately following the service, The Daytona 500 will be playing in the KPC Fellowship Hall where all friends and family are asked to come together to visit and enjoy a Southern Style reception. Boogity, Boogity! {Andrew: “MOM!” lol}
In lieu of flowers please consider contributions to University of North Carolina Charlotte Baja team. The team is competing in the Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition for their senior project. For specifics about this request: contact Marie (Andrew’s Mom) at mzroberson@verizon.net
Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence to the family.
Andrew is survived by his mom and dad, Marie and Gary Roberson; his cherished sister, Suzanne Denbow; his brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Stacey Roberson; his sister and buddy, Charlotte Roberson; his uncle, Lewis C. Trauffer; father, Stephen (Meredith) Denbow; his aunt Ellen Trauffer; his cousin, Stephen Trauffer and daughter Alaina; his aunt, Jenifer Washer; his uncle, Rick Denbow; his uncle, Randy Denbow; his cousins Michael, Mark, and Diane Denbow; and many, many friends and extended family members who loved him very dearly, and always will. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Suzanne and Lewis H. Trauffer, USN, ret., his uncle, Harry L. Trauffer, USMC, ret., and his grandmother, Ann Denbow. Andrew was born on October 23, 1994 in Norfolk, Virginia to Stephen Denbow and Marie (Denbow) Roberson. He graduated with honors from Kempsville High School in 2013 and was a senior at the William States Lee School of Engineering at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He was majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in motorsports. Andrew was a very industrious student, committed team-leader, and intellectually curious man. Friends tell us he was also a devoted and inspiring teammate, and helped lead his junior design team to receive the highest grade in the class for their robotics project - a welding robot. He was also an enthusiastic member of the UNCC Baja team, which competed in the Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Series. The Baja SAE series is an intercollegiate competition that requires students to build their own car from the ground up, and Andrew was excited to help build and race the UNCC Baja’s team first entrant in four years. Andrew had an unquenchable passion for motorsports. His enthusiasm as an adult took root at age 3 as a Bobbie Labonte NASCAR fan. Andrew reached out to Arena racing teams at age 10, then a Langley Raceway team, then as a young teenager he interned with Mitchum Motorsports of Virginia Beach. MMS took him all over the country working many crew jobs, including fueler which concerned his mother. {lol Andrew: “Oh Mom, don’t put that in”} This exposure to the world of racing enlarged his scope for a motorsports career which transitioned him into more hands-on roles as a data engineer for NASCAR. In fact, his supervisor at Mitchum was so impressed by the earnestness he demonstrated in his youth, that he hired Andrew to work with him on the Lamborghini Racing team as an adult. This particular job was a joyful milestone in his life of which he most proud.
As a child, Andrew was always passionate about moving parts and how they function together to form a perfect machine. He was first exposed to this concept in kindergarten, when his introduction to t-ball introduced him to the delicate dance of skill and teamwork required by sports. In 2003, his team, the Kempsville Marlins, won the recreational league championship, with his help as first basemen. He loved baseball and played it up until middle school. It was at this age that he began to reach out to the local racing teams to intern. As a Boy Scout, his zeal for all things automotive stoked when he competed in the Pinewood Derby. It was then that he was first exposed to the thrill of building and racing a creation of his own design, and this passion followed him throughout his life.
His Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering will be awarded posthumously in the spring. His friends will remember him as a hard-working, witty guy, who was liked and admired by all who met him. His family will remember him as the light of their lives, whose loss has created a profound void that will not be filled in this lifetime.
The family will receive friends at Graham Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Rd. Chesapeake on Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 4 pm to 6 pm. A Celebration of Life funeral is scheduled for Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Kempsville Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach at 2pm. Immediately following the service, The Daytona 500 will be playing in the KPC Fellowship Hall where all friends and family are asked to come together to visit and enjoy a Southern Style reception. Boogity, Boogity! {Andrew: “MOM!” lol}
In lieu of flowers please consider contributions to University of North Carolina Charlotte Baja team. The team is competing in the Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition for their senior project. For specifics about this request: contact Marie (Andrew’s Mom) at mzroberson@verizon.net
Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence to the family.