Robert Franklin Bumpus III joined our Lord Jesus Christ on January 21, 2014, at the age of 57. Robert was born to Robert and Norma Bumpus on July 26, 1956, in Birmingham.
Robert grew up seeking adventure and pestering his little sister Lauronda. Jesus got a hold of Robert’s heart when he was 14 years old at a youth camp. This transformed his life and made him the man he was.
In 1975, Robert followed his wandering heart to Oklahoma City to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University. One day he saw long legs and long hair walking across campus. He said, “That’s the woman I’m going to marry.” He helped Cheryl earn her MRS degree the summer of 1978.
Prior to the wedding, Robert explored Alaska. Communication with Cheryl was limited, and no one knew if he would return. But he came back for the wedding because there was nothing the Final Frontier could offer him that was better than Cheryl.
Later, Robert earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and an AA in School Administration.
Robert and Cheryl had four kids, Frank, Josh, Rachel and Hillary. Robert always told his kids how he was proud of each one. Just because Robert had a full sized family did not make him tied down to Decatur.
Robert taught school nine months of the year and played the other three. Robert decided traveling to every United States National Park would be an “excellent” educational opportunity for his boys. The next summer he took the entire family back to Alaska. The state just kept calling his name.
He made sure his kids were comfortable with the great outdoors. They built rafts, rappelled off rocks, camped, went backpacking, and explored the depths of the earth in dark caves.
Robert loved being outside, but he loved the people he met on each journey even more. People were drawn to Robert, too. He loved deeply because he knew how Jesus loved. He went were people were, shared in their lives, and helped many people.
Today we are celebrating because Robert is canoeing down the river of life, eating all kinds of fruit from the tree of life, and rappelling from the high walls in heaven. He is worshiping our Creator face to face. It is better than Alaska!
Robert is survived by his wife Cheryl; his parents, Robert and Norma; his kids, Frank, Josh, Rachel and Hillary; his two daughters-in-law, Tracy and Jessica; and his two grandchildren, Robert and Libelle.
Funeral services will be today, January 24, 2014, at 2 p.m. at First Bible Church, Decatur, with Jackson Memory Funeral Home directing.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Neighborhood Christian Center of Decatur in memory of Robert Bumpus and family.
