Virginia lost a rare leader this week with the passing of Robert S. Bloxom Sr. of Mappsville.

In this highly polarized political climate, it’s hard to imagine someone willing to cross the aisle in a substantive and meaningful way.

But that’s precisely what the late Republican lawmaker did. The former state delegate accepted the position of Virginia’s first Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry when then-Governor Mark Warner, a Democrat, offered him the post. And he continued to serve under Warner’s successor, Tim Kaine—another Democrat.

Both men paid tribute to him after his passing. “Bob Bloxom was a true Virginian who always put the commonwealth first,” Sen. Warner said. “Bob Bloxom was the epitome of public servant—dedicated, kind, devoted to the beautiful Eastern Shore,” his junior colleague in the U.S. Senate added.

A lifelong Eastern Shore resident, he passed away on Sunday at his Accomack County home.

It was a quirk of fate that allowed Bloxom to serve the reside...