Robert Samuel Camp

Robert Samuel Camp — known to many as “Bob,” “Coach Bob,” “PC,” or simply “Papa” — passed away at home in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 12, 2025, surrounded by family. For the past 10 years, he lived with his daughter Chrissy and her family, sharing in their daily lives and being a constant presence in their home. He was 82. Born on August 29, 1942, in Marion, Ohio, Bob was the son of Scott and Elizabeth Camp, formerly of Charleston, West Virginia, who preceded him in death.

Bob grew up in Charleston and graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1960. He attended West Virginia University, where he played varsity basketball and served as team captain his senior year. In 1965, he earned the rare distinction of leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists — a feat accomplished in WVU history only by Jerry West, Rod Thorn, and Bob Camp himself. That same year, he made the Southern Conference All-Tournament First Team.

In 1964, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Carol Greenlee. They were married for thirty-three years and together raised four children.

Following his graduation from WVU, Bob served as Parks Director of Charleston, WV, and played professional basketball for the Scranton Miners from 1965–1967. He went on to coach basketball at Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, WV, before transitioning into sports broadcasting at WDTV in Weston, WV. For many years, he and his brother Scott owned and operated Camps’ Carpet in Roanoke, VA. He then spent 20 years as a wholesale representative in the flooring industry. Later, he changed industries and began selling advertising for the Chamber of Commerce on the West Coast, a position he continued remotely from Florida until his retirement.

After moving to Florida, Bob found his way back to his first love — coaching basketball. Over the span of more than two decades, he coached the youth travel teams of his grandsons — Zack, Kyle, Donovan, and Ty — investing countless hours in practices, tournaments, and road trips. In recent seasons, he became a proud spectator for Tate, keeping detailed tallies with his unique “Coach Bob points” system and then explaining his scoring and insights to players and family.

Bob’s influence in the South Florida travel basketball community is lasting. Many former players credit him for helping shape them into the men they are today, and his reputation as a knowledgeable, passionate coach continues to be respected by all who knew him.

Bob is survived by:

• His son, Danny Camp and his wife Sybil of Peoria, AZ; grandson Dillon Camp and his wife Paige of North Bend, WA, with great-grandchildren Amelia, Nick, Teddy, and Violet; grandson Jesse Camp and fiancée Heather of Seattle, WA.

• His daughter, Liz Nowacki of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; grandchildren Emily Nowacki of London, England; Whitney Haines and her husband Jared of Auburn, WA, with great-grandchildren Hunter and Henley; Kyle Yong and his wife Maria of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and Zack Nowacki of Austin, TX.

• His daughter, Jennifer Camp and her husband Martin Pepper of Media, PA; grandson Tom Pepper and granddaughter Nicola Pepper of Media, PA.

• His daughter, Chrissy Watson and her husband Tony of West Palm Beach, FL; grandchildren Donovan Draper of Annapolis, MD (a senior at the United States Naval Academy and member of the basketball team), Ty Watson, Tate Watson, and Tuck Watson.

He is also survived by his brother Scott Camp and his wife Colleen of Red Bluff, CA; his sister Nancy Jacobs and her husband Bruce of The Villages, FL; cousin Jeanie Harman and wife Vicki Smith of Camas, WA; and, in his last seven years, Bette Snowden of Delray Beach, FL — affectionately known in the family as Coach Bob’s “lady friend” — who quickly became part of the family and a treasured companion.

A virtual Celebration of Life will take place on Bob’s birthday, August 29th, at 12:30 PM Eastern/ 9:30 AM Pacific, livestreamed on YouTube, with details available soon on his Facebook page. An in-person Celebration of Life will be held the last weekend in September; details will be shared at a later date.