Robert Leroy Cummings, known to many as Bob, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, just a month shy of his 85th birthday. Bob Cummings lived a full and robust life, anchored by his love for his Heavenly Father and his Savior Jesus Christ. He impacted thousands through his unwavering faith and his incredible ability to mentor, guide, counsel, and love, with a charity unsurpassed. Bob was universally cheerful and optimistic with a smile for all that he encountered. He was effervescent and loved to laugh, play, teach and pray. Bob is survived by his wife Threesa Cummings and his nine living children, two step-children, 27 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lynne Pond Cummings, his eldest son Kent and his eldest daughter Susan.

Robert Cummings was born May 23, 1938, in Los Angeles, CA to Charles Russell Cummings and Marjory Emma John. He was the middle child of three, with older brother Chuck Cummings and younger sister Susan Cummings Fife. For eight years, Bob enjoyed growing up with his siblings in Southern California before his family moved to Holden, Utah where his life changed dramatically moving onto a family farm. One pivotal moment in Bob’s life occurred on April 22, 1952 when he was baptized as a teenager into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with his mother and siblings. His family moved to Logan as Bob began his high school years where Bob was a tremendous athlete as football and track were large parts of his youth and high school years at Logan High School. Bob received a football scholarship to attend Utah State University in Logan and played running back and defensive back for the Aggies. Over the objection of position coaches and administrators, Bob made the difficult decision to potentially sacrifice his football career to serve a mission for the LDS church. Elder Cummings was called to the East Central States Mission and served faithfully in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, sharing the gospel that he loved. Following his mission service, Bob often shared exciting and nerve-wracking mission experiences to the rapt attention of his children, grandchildren and students.

Upon return from his mission, Bob was thrilled to be able to return to the football playing field and resumed his football career with the Aggies. Shortly thereafter, Bob met his first love, Alma Lynne Pond Cummings. In 1963 two life altering experiences occurred, first, Bob and Lynne were married in the Logan LDS temple and second, during a home football game, Bob suffered a career ending injury curtailing the future interest of the Dallas Cowboys in Bob as a potential National Football League player. Pivoting quickly, Bob was recruited to teach in the Seminary and Institute program of the LDS church and joined the Church Education System, graduating from Utah State and beginning his teaching career in Logan, Utah, Snake River, Idaho and Driggs, Idaho. Bob and Lynne began their family in Logan and Idaho where Kent, andré douglas, Susan and Sharon were each born.

Bob spent 38 years teaching in LDS seminary and institute programs, moving from Idaho to Southern California to teach at Long Beach State, Los Angeles Harbor College and El Camino College. Bob loved teaching the gospel to thousands of students over his 38 years, sharing his testimony daily and counseling and mentoring high school and college students. Bob’s superb athleticism continued throughout as he was nearly unbeatable on the Racquetball Court and at the Ping Pong table. While in California, Bob and Lynne welcomed Kristin, Cameron and Kara into their growing family of nine. While assisting Lynne in raising their seven children and teaching his institute religion classes, Bob served the LDS church as a volunteer leader in the capacity of Bishop, Stake Mission Leader, member of the Stake Presidency, and dedicated minister. Throughout this service, particularly as Bishop of a young single adult ward, the Harbor Second Ward, Bob encouraged hundreds of young men and women to serve missions for the LDS church, sending off dozens of Elders and Sisters in service to the Lord.

Bob retired from the Church Education System in 2001 and just prior to retiring, he lost Lynne to a tragic automobile accident in 2000, where he nearly lost his life as well, leaving him a widower. Bob recovered from his injuries and although retired, he continued to teach classes for many years after at El Camino College. He also loved to serve in LDS temples throughout his retirement, both in the Los Angeles temple and later in the Cedar City, Utah temple. In 2002, Bob married Threesa Loveless Nicholson and over their twenty one years together, welcomed four children into their blended family, with Bob’s seven and Threesa’s two children, Jennifer and Jordan, when they married. Twins Joseph and Marinda joined the family next, followed by Emma and finally Catherine. Bob and Threesa were busy together, homeschooling their young children and opening a private academy after leaving Southern California and moving to Cedar City, Utah in 2013.

Bob’s time in Utah with Threesa and his family was filled with new adventures, including homeschooling, owning and teaching at a private school, homesteading complete with chickens, goats, rabbits and gardens, moving to Spring City, UT in 2020 and continuing in his service to his church, his family, and his Lord. When Bob passed peacefully on April 26th, 2023, he was no doubt met by those loved ones that preceded him, including his parents Charles Russell Cummings and Marjory Emma John, his brother Charles “Chuck” Cummings, his sister Susan Cummings Fife, his first wife, Lynne Pond Cummings, his son Kent Robert Cummings, and his daughter Susan Lynne Cummings Grover.

Bob is survived by his wife, Threesa Cummings and children, andré douglas (Lavinia) cummings, Sharon Cummings, Kristin (John) Albrechtsen, Cameron Cummings, Kara (Darren) Butler, Jennifer (Brill) Hernández, Jordan Nicholson, Joseph Cummings, Marinda Cummings, Emma Cummings, Catherine Cummings, and daughter-in-law Denice (Kent, deceased) Cummings, son-in-law, Doug (Susan, deceased) Grover, sister-in-law Maxine (Charles, Jr) Cummings, as well as his 27 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Services

Viewing

Thursday, May. 11, 2023 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Cedar Creek Ward Building (LDS Church)
7655 E 15000 N
Spring City, UT 84662

Viewing

Friday, May. 12, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Cedar Creek Ward Building (LDS Church)
7655 E 15000 N
Spring City, UT 84662

Funeral Service

Friday, May. 12, 2023 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cedar Creek Ward Building (LDS Church)
7655 E 15000 N
Spring City, UT 84662

Burial

Saturday, May. 13, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Logan City Cemetery
1000 N 1200 E
Logan, UT 84321

Family

  • Survived By
  • Threesa Cummings, Spouse
  • andre douglas pond cummings, Son
  • Luvinia Cummings, Daughter-in-Law
  • Sharon Cummings, Daughter
  • Kristin Albrechtsen,
  • John Albrechtsen, Son-in-Law
  • Cameron Cummings, Son
  • Kara Butler, Daughter
  • Darren Butler, Son-in-Law
  • Jennifer Hernandez, Daughter
  • Brill Hernandez, Son-in-Law
  • Jordan Nicholson, Son
  • Joseph Cummings, Son
  • Marinda Cummings, Daughter
  • Emma Cummings, Daughter
  • Catherine Cummings, Daughter
  • Maxine Wiser Cummings, Sister-in-Law
  • Denise Cummings, Daughter-in-Law
  • Doug Grover, Son-in-Law
  • Preceded in Death By
  • Charles Russell Cummings, Father
  • Marjory Emma John, Mother
  • Charles Russell Cummings, Jr., Brother
  • Susan Evelyn Fife, Sister
  • Kent Robert Cummings, Son
  • Susan Lynne Cummings Grover, Daughter

Life Story Info

Post Date

May 05, 2023

Personal Info

Age

84
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NEXT Keith Barker Knighton Keith Barker Knighton

Guestbook

I met Bob and Lynne when we first moved to the Snake River area to teach Seminary. We had many fun times together as Seminary couples. Bob was always genuine and caring. He helped me get started in my career. Bob loved to laugh and have fun but could also be very serious and spiritual.

One evening some Seminary Teachers and our wives met a t Bob and Lynne's home for a get to together. somone in our party opened their oven and there were all the dirty dishes Lynne had stashed quickly before we came. We all had fun teasing her but she took it all in stride.

I love them both and look forward to my meeting them again in the Grand Councils of Heaven.

Sander Bybee , Blackfoot, ID, US May 06, 2023

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