Robert Glen Robbins, better known to family and friends as “Bob” 92 years, 3 months, 6 days old, departed this life to his heavenly home on May 23, 2026 in his home surrounded by family.

Bob was born February 17, 1934 in the New Hope community, down by the Arkansas line to Drucilla "Drewy" (Pullman) and Onis Robbins. He was one of seven children; those include Christine (Grisham), Herbert, Leslie, Lessie (Pierce), Fern (Hambelton), and Mary Lou (Snelson).

Bob grew up working with the family's general store, where Onis was known to buy and sell pelts. Bob remembers his Dad having 1,200 pelts at one time and Bob driving down to Memphis to sell them. Onis later became a fisheries census taker on Bull Shoal's Lake where he got to fish daily.

Bob's Mom, Drucilla and sister, Christine were the first owners of the infamous cafe on the square, commonly known to many as Skeeters. Drucilla was known for her homemade pies and fresh bread.

Bob graduated from Gainesville High School in 1951 at the young age of seventeen. Bob met a beautiful blue-eyed, black haired, young girl, Peggy (Friend) at the fair. They would later marry on September 1, 1953 and enjoy 67 years of marriage together. In those years , they were blessed with four children, Kathy Jackson of Paragould, Pam Ross of Gainesville, Diana and Jerry Premer of Mtn Grove, Marty and Cindy Robbins of Ozark and a special nephew Chris and Amanda Berger of Conway.

Bob worked many jobs throughout his life. He hauled gas, worked in a sugar beet factory in Iowa, worked for the telephone company 28 years and built houses with his son-in-law, Randy for 12 years. But probably his most favorite job was working in the timber. Bob cut and sold cordwood, cedars, oak and hickory for the charcoal kilns here in Gainesville. Once Efton Friend and he took a load of wood on a flatbed truck down to Texas.

Bob enjoyed doing many things. He was never too busy to stop and visit with friends, loved working in the yard and tending to Peggy's flowers, whirling Peggy around the dance floor, putting puzzles together, and picking out pecans in the winter but his passion was fishing. Fishing was his favorite thing to do and talk about, and his favorite fishing was in Canada. His very first trip to Canada was in June 1969 and that was the trip where he caught “the ole bigg’n” that hangs in the basement, and the trip that spurred his love for his precious Wabaskang Camp. Bob took approximately 60 trips to Canada, sometimes two each year. Each time he went, he tried to take someone who had never been. He wanted them to have the experience that he loved so much. Bob also made sure his grandkids spent time in his boat fishing the lakes in Wisconsin as well.

Bob was a devoted Christian getting baptized early in his adult life and serving with a passion as a Deacon in the First Baptist Church providing a Godly example to all who knew him. Bob found many ways to serve the Lord; helping people in his community, volunteering numerous hours at the food pantry, setting up and cleaning up after Hootin ‘n Hollerin, donating over ten gallons of blood at the community blood drives, being a listening ear for his friends and leading his large family in prayers. He often joked he needed a bigger house because the family prayer circle for dinner often included various rooms and configurations to get everybody in the circle.

Bob is survived by his children as well as his grandkids, Josh (Chelsea) Jackson, Juli Jackson, Jessica (Jonathan) Harley, Sarah (Tommy) Peterson, Dustin (Kayla) Premer, Dominique (Justin) Reed, Abby Robbins, Matt Robbins, Christopher (Jessica) Berger, Gunnar Berger, Ryder (Bailee) Berger, Stephy, Jordan, Serenity, and Elisabeth Berger. Great grandkids: Jace Jackson, Connor, Colin, Kasen Masterson, Joshua, Judah, Poppy Jackson, Jentry, Jax, JP Harley, Mariah, Melody, Colton Premer, Samuel Reed, Kayleigh Robbins and great-great granddaughters Adelina and Rowyn Berger, Sister Mary Snelson of Gainesville, brother-in-law E.W. Friend and Ina of Wasola, special friends, Randy Ross and Steve Weatherford along with many nieces and nephews.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Peggy, five siblings and one grandson, Jeremiah Jackson.

The last year of Bob's life and his wish to remain home has been made possible by an amazing team of caregivers. The family would like to send a special Thank You to Seth, Shannon, Rachel and staff of Compassus for the care they gave to Bob. AND to the true angels on earth-- Missy, Summer and Reagan. Thank you for the laughs, friendship, care, and love you have given to our Dad.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 2026 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO. Burial will follow in the Sims Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Sims Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.