Robert Edward Vandiver was born in Anderson, the son of David Sanford and Eliza Crymes Vandiver. He was educated at Furman University, receiving an A.B. degree in 1939 and at the University of South Carolina, where he earned his LL.B. in 1940. He served as Student Body President at the Law School and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Phi, and the Wig and Robe. He commenced practice alone and was elected Anderson County Representative in 1940. He resigned to volunteer for the Air Corps as a private. He attended Officers’ Candidate School and was discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1946.
In 1946, he became a partner in the Watkins firm when Samuel Prince withdrew to become Dean of the University of South Carolina Law School. In that firm, he practiced with single ability until his retirement in 1974.
He was President of the Anderson County Bar Association and a member of the Grievance Committee of the South Carolina Bar Association. He was the organizer and General Counsel of Bi-Lo, Inc. He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Anderson. A retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the United States Air Force, he helped organize and direct the Anderson Air Panorama.
He was married to Ann Jones and they had three children, Lide Pendleton, David Sanford, III and Elizabeth Ann Vandiver.
Respected by both the Bench and Bar and trusted by all of his clients, he upheld the highest standards of the profession.