FAIRBURY – Robert W. Cummins, Jr., 83 of Fairbury, died at 9:40 p.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Advocate BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal after a short but fierce battle with lung cancer.
Cremation rites have been accorded with a celebration of Bob’s life to be held at a later date. Entombment will be at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is assisting with arrangements.
Bob was born November 18, 1934 in Kankakee the son of Robert W. and Luetta M. Zahn Cummins Sr. He married Mary Farley on December 18, 1955 in Forrest. She survives in Fairbury.
Other survivors include their children, Barbara (Dean) Hartley, Naperville, Bill (Sally) Cummins, Normal, Susan (Eric) Miller, Largo, FL, four grandchildren, Megan (David) Van Gorder, Bryan (Tara Vaughan) Spence, Bridget Spence, Rebecca (Shamyle) Ghazali, and four great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Sara Cummins, and a sister, Margaret Toth.
Bob was a graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School. He received his bachelor of music education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and his masters of science in education from Illinois State University. He taught vocal music in the Bloomington Public School system for thirty-seven years until his retirement.
His hobbies included building model trains, boats and steam engines. He also fancied himself as an actor enjoying his time on stage with the Community Players Theater and Conklin Theater.
The family suggests memorials be given to the Dominy Memorial Library, Fairbury.
A guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
