Robert Welton “Bob” Cummins (94) of Newton

Robert Welton “Bob” Cummins, age 94, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 3:15 PM Friday, September 20, 2019, at HSHS St Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, September 25 at the Meyer Funeral Home, Newton, Illinois. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Illinois, with full military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM Tuesday. In loving memory of Bob, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Newton. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here.

Bob was born on November 10, 1924, in Dix, Illinois, the son of Joe and Huldah (Moehlmann) Cummins. Huldah later remarried James (Jim) W. Wells, whom Bob considered his father. He married Madonna Jean Lewis on September 13, 1947, in Carmi, Illinois and she preceded him in death August 30, 2014.

Bob served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945.

Bob was Owner-Publisher of the Newton Press-Mentor from 1972, until he retired and sold it in 1987. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois and began his newspaper career working for his stepfather, Jim Wells, on the Newton Press after moving to Newton in 1949. The Newton Press and Mentor Democrat were merged in 1959, to create the Newton Press-Mentor. During his career he had been involved in almost every aspect of the business including working as photographer, reporter, general manager, editor and supervisor of advertising sales, layout and printing. In 1982, Bob was named a Master Editor and inducted into the Southern Illinois Journalism Hall of Fame.

Bob was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Newton and Jasper Post #20 American Legion. He was active in the Newton Rotary Club and served on the board of directors of the First National Bank for several years. He enjoyed bowling but his real passion was playing golf. He was a member of the Jasper County Country Club and enjoyed playing golf during the winter months in Florida. Some of his proudest moments were shooting a hole-in-one at the Country Club of Miami in 1989, and shooting his age at Laws Creek Golf Course in 2003.

Bob is survived by his children, Susan Whitehurst of Vacaville, California, and Scott (Charlotte) Cummins of Port St. John, Florida; grandchildren, Shana (Erich) VanStralen of Calabasas, California; Brooke (Cory) Lorenz of Centennial, Colorado; Brock (Brooke) Bigard of Erie, Colorado; Autumn Cummins of Jacksonville, Florida, and Ryan (Anne) Cummins of Canyon Country, California; and great-grandchildren Anthony VanStralen of Calabasas, California; Dylan Lorenz of Centennial, Colorado; Nathan and Allison Bigard of Erie, Colorado, and Connor and Lily Cummins of Canyon Country, California.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean Cummins; daughter, Nancy Bigard; and grandson, Brandon Whitehurst.