Robert H. Irvin

Robert Henry Irvin passed away on May 10, 2017. He was born on May 23, 1928 on the Irvin family farm in rural Dale, Illinois, the son of Henry Irvin and Effie Williams Irvin.  He married Laura Rose (Lee) Irvin on June 24, 1950 in Dale, Illinois.  He is survived by his wife, Laura Rose of Carterville, and by his son, Stan Irvin of Carrier Mills.  He was preceded in death by his son Keith W. Irvin, his father and mother, and two sisters Lola Grace Irvin and Myrtle Elizabeth Irvin (both of whom passed in childhood). Robert concluded a thirty-five year career as an educator on August 29, 1985 when he retired as the Dean of Vocational – Technical Education at John A. Logan College, in Carterville. He held a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science degree in School Administration from Indiana State University.  He undertook advanced graduate courses at the University of Illinois prior to beginning his teaching career in Dale, Illinois.  He then taught at Dahlgren and Mount Carmel High School where he sponsored the local FFA Chapter.  He subsequently left classroom teaching to become a Dean at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois.  In 1969 he became a Dean and one of the founding members of the leadership team at John A. Logan College.  Many of the college’s outstanding vocational, technical and continuing education programs were launched under Dean Irvin’s guidance. One of the programs Dean Irvin started, of which he was extremely proud, was the Nursing Program at John A. Logan College.  The program trained many of the nurses who in turn provided loving care for Dean Irvin. In the 1970s Robert and his family began “Locations & Places,” a real estate investment and property development firm. He greatly enjoyed his role as a General Contractor, building houses and medical offices in southern Illinois.  Throughout his life he also participated in farming the Irvin farm in Hamilton county. A member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Marion, Illinois for forty-seven years, he attended the First United Methodist Church in Carrier Mills for the past eight years. Robert was the personification of the unconditional love of 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 7. He was an extremely kind, gentle and caring person whose love knew no bounds.  He taught each member of his family how to love their Creator with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.  He was a man who possessed a deep, quiet and strong faith; one who never wavered in his Christian walk.  All who met him would marvel at his serene spirit and his sweet nature.  Being humble, he never drew attention to himself, never bragged of his career accomplishments and never thought of himself first.  He deeply loved his wife Laura with all of his heart during their sixty-six years of marriage.  He would sacrifice himself and do anything for his wife, and sons Keith and Stan.  His family was proud to call him “husband” and “father.” And, indeed, he was the perfect husband and father, as well as an exemplary servant of God.  When God called Robert home, God ushered into heaven one of the saints of the church, a man who had been a good and faithful servant, and to whom we all say “well done.” His visitation will be held at Mitchell – Hughes Funeral Home in Marion on Saturday, May 13, from 11 am to 1:30 pm, followed by his funeral service at 1:30 pm.   The Reverend James Slone and Reverend Stan Irvin will conduct the service.  Interment will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery in McLeansboro, Illinois. For those who prefer memorials may be given to John A. Logan College Foundation, with a notation to the Keith W. Irvin Memorial Scholarship Fund. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 North Market Street, Marion, Illinois 62959.