Technical Sergeant Robert “Bob” Leroy Cummings, age 81

Technical Sergeant Robert “Bob” Leroy Cummings, 81, joined his loving savior Saturday May 6, 2023, in North Little Rock, AR.  Bob was a decorated veteran who served 21 years in the United States Air Force.

Sgt. Cummings was born on July 3, 1941, in Redkey, IN to his parents Robert Enos & Dorothy Loween Denney. Following graduation from high school, Bob decided to join the Air Force and was stationed at Charleston AFB where he met and married the love of his life, Nina Patricia “Pat” McCormick. They gave birth to two children, daughter Nina Patricia “Patti” Cummings, and son Robert Leroy “Robby” Cummings, Jr. before leaving S.C. and moving on to the Philippines.  During the Vietnam conflict, Bob had two brothers already in theater and was sent to Thailand in support of the efforts.

Returning to the mainland a few years later, Bob was assigned to Sheppard AFB, TX and then on to Kessler AFB, MS.  During the final years of the Vietnam conflict Bob was assigned to Anderson AFB, Guam where sorties of the TET offensive were successfully launched.  After leaving the beautiful island of Guam, Bob and his family were transferred to Myrtle Beach, SC where they lived in nearby Conway.  A few years later the family relocated to Lakenheath, England for a three-year tour.  Homestead AFB, FL was Bob’s final tour of duty on active duty.  Bob retired after serving the US Air Force for “twenty years, ten months and one day” as he recounted in later years.

After retirement, Bob moved his family to central Arkansas where he began his civilian service.  Bob worked as an insurance agent for many years, and then later as a loss prevention officer.  Bob’s greatest joy came after the arrival of his first and then subsequent grandchildren.

Bob loved working in his garden.  He could be found every spring tilling and prepping his garden space and then bringing in a bounty of vegetables in late summer.  He continued to work his garden until the Parkinson’s prevented him from running his tiller any longer.

Bob Cummings was, a loving, devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife of almost sixty years, Pat, and his two children Patti and Robby (Denise Wooldridge), his brother Darrel Cummings, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Dorothy, stepmother Alta Vanderlinden, brothers Ronald E., David L., sister Sandra K, as well as half-brother Bud Clark, half sister Mary L. Stevens.  Also, stepbrothers John, Frank, Charles, Robert, and Richard Stephens

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 10:30am followed by funeral service at 11:30am at A Natural State Funeral Service; 2620 West Main St, Jacksonville, AR  72076. Military honors at graveside promptly at 1:00pm at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery; 1501 West Maryland Avenue North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72120. The Cummings family welcomes stories, photos, and memories that Bob’s friends and family would like to share. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Cummings home in Cabot, following military honors, please contact Patti or Robby for details.  The family welcomes donations to The Parkinson’s Foundation as an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com