Robert F. Cummings

A 47-year resident of Arcadia, Robert passed away at the Arcadia Health Care Center of complications following a hip replacement surgery and Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Spencer, Iowa, the only child to his parents Thaddus L. Cummings & Josephine Squire Cummings. His early education was also in Spencer. Iowa. Robert served in the Army Signal Operations, 529 Company, and landed on the beach at Okinawa on April 18, 1945. His company set up telephone and teletype communications for the 10th Army Headquarters. Their headquarters was located near a huge Okinawan family tomb which gave them protection. After leaving Okinawa, the 529th was detached from the 10th Army and was assigned to the 24th Corp. They landed in Inchon, Korea and were the first troops to occupy Korea on September 28, 1945. The 529th Company was moved to the top floor of the Hanto Hotel in Seoul, and assigned to operate Headquarter communications for the 24th Corp. Bob left for the U.S. on March 5, 1946 on board the USS Scott where he joined the on-board band and played as the troops were welcomed home at the Port of Seattle. After the war, Bob returned to Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa and graduated with a BA Degree in General Engineering. He played in the Iowa State Marching Band, and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduation he joined the Powers Regulator Company and was assigned to Kansas City, Missouri where he met and married his wife, Betty, in June 1953. Bob worked in Management and Sales his whole career. In 1966 he was transferred to California where he and Betty raised their three children, Ted, Roberta and Ron Cummings, in Arcadia. He was also active in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Arcadia Youth Baseball, and played 17 years in the San Gabriel Concert Band in the Park in Temple City. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Roberta Cummings; his son and daughter-in-law, Ronald & Kelly Cummings; daughter-in-law, Kathy Cummings Rimer (wife of their oldest son, Ted, who died in 1988); and his grandchildren, Kimberly & Casey Cummings and Calvin Paul. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert & Sarah Jones of Marshall, Missouri and numerous nieces and nephews A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 23 at the United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia. Interment was at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the: “Church of the Good Shepherd Foundation.” Care entrusted to Douglass & Zook Chapel of Remembrance Funeral Home in Monrovia, CA (626-358-3244).