Robert C. Cromwell Jr., 81 years of Powell, Ohio and formerly of Ney, Bryan and Montpelier, Ohio, passed away at 8:50 p.m., Thursday evening, August 24, 2017 in his residence with his family at his side.
Robert was born March 21, 1936 in DeKalb County, Indiana, the son of the late Robert C. and Mildred (Shannon) Cromwell, Sr.
He was a 1954 graduate of Ney High School. He married Cecilia R. Yagelski on October 10, 1964 in Montpelier, Ohio, and she survives.
A proud Air Force veteran, Robert served our country from 1955 until his discharge in 1959. Robert worked for State Bank and Trust as the Branch Manager of the Ney State Bank and Trust for 26 years, retiring in 1998. Prior to this he worked as an engraver for Hubbard Printing in Defiance. Robert was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell, Ohio. While residing in northwest Ohio, Robert was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan. Bob was involved in his community, serving in the Ney Village Council for 9 years, Ney Community Park Board for 19 years, where he served as Secretary-Treasurer, the Defiance Regional Planning Commission, and on the Central Local Board of Education where he served for 11 1/2 years, three of those years as President. He also was a member of the Bryan Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bryan Kiwanis Club, serving as Treasurer. Bob enjoyed reading later in his life as well as spending time at their lake cottage on Rose Lake. He treasured the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Surviving is his wife, Cecilia of Powell, Ohio; two children, Robert C. (Jennifer) Cromwell, III of Powell, Ohio and Kimberly (Jeff) Cromwell-Berkes of Powell, Ohio; six grandchildren, Sgt. Kylee (Sgt. Alex) Goldsmith, Raegan Heitzenrater, Jackson Cromwell, Emerson Cromwell, Luci Berkes and Jack Berkes; stepfather, Francis Borton, Jr. of Ney, Ohio; one sister, LaDonna (Bill) Hoffman of Coldwater, Michigan and one brother, Richard (Janice) Cromwell of Coldwater, Michigan; brother-in-law, Larry Yagelski of Montpelier, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Larry Winright.
Visitation for Robert Cromwell will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2017 from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home- Lynn Street Chapel, 206 North Lynn Street, Bryan. Funeral services for Robert will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 30, 2017 in St. Isidore Catholic Church, 03624 State Route 15, Defiance, Ohio 43512, with Father John Stites officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery, with Military Graveside Rites accorded by the Sherwood VFW Post 5665.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions be made to the James Cancer Hospital Precision Cancer Medicine in Medical Oncology Fund, 660 Ackerman Road, P.O. Box 183112, Columbus, Ohio 43218 or to the Bryan Parks and Recreation Department.
Condolences may be sent to the family or the online guest book may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com