of Wollongong
Passed away on Tuesday 24th December 2024. Beloved husband of the late Jennifer. Dearly loved father and father-in-law of Virginia and Douglas, Alison and Allan, Julie and Daniel. Cherished Poppy Bob of Dalton, Ruby, Thomas, Liam, Elke, and Finn. Bob will be sadly missed by his loving family and many dear friends.
Aged 84 Years
Reunited with his Beloved Jenna
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bob’s funeral service to be held at Salvation Army Citadel, 11-13 Burelli Street Wollongong on Thursday 9th January 2025 at 10:30am.
Watch Livestream here
Service now available to stream
Funeral Details
Date & Time
10:30 am, Thu 9 January 2025Venue
Salvation Army Citadel, 11-13 Burelli St, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, AUView on Google Maps
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H.Parsons Funerals
100% Australian, H.Parsons has been serving the NSW South Coast since 1893.(02) 4228 9622
info@hparsons.com.au
34 Belmore St, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500
http://www.hparsons.com.au
Dear Virginia and family,
Many years ago, Bob was my tutor in physics when I was a UoW first year Uni student. He gave students excellent encouragement
We knew of each other over the years when I became an academic – we would both say g’day. We eventually had further connections when promoting STEM to High School students became important to Bob and the University.
Sorry to hear of Bob’s passing.
r
Annette Worthy
Dear Virginia and family,
During my studies, I shared a room with Bob, who was supervising undergraduate students at the time. He had a passionate approach to promoting STEM and building connections with the community to further education outcomes. He was a believer in the utilisation of education to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students. He had an irreverent and cheeky approach to starting conversations with the day’s latest news while watching everyone’s reactions. He had a binding passion and commitment to the community.
My condolences on your loss.
Regards
Paul
I met Bob first while studying at UoW and then at a few other inter-church gatherings.
He struck me as a very practical, honest and down-to-earth person with an engaging cheeky manner.
His capacity to balance the earthly STEM world with higher spiritual and heavenly realms showed the breadth of this man’s mind and heart.
I’m sure he will be missed by many.
Bob had so many interests, and such enthusiasm for each of them; always up for a chat, on any number of topics. One of a kind and greatly missed. Roger
Dear Virginia and family,
I have known Bob since he was a minister at the church my family attending in Mt St Thomas 60 years ago. Bob wrote a reference for me when I applied for my first and only job at the University of Wollongong 50 years ago. He was a wonderful and passionate person who loved his job at UOW and he was always dropping in to say hello. He will be sadly missed. Condolences to all the family. Thinking of you all at this very sad time, Warm regards, Kerrie.
My condolence and deepest sympathies to Virginia and his family.
He was in our Bible Study every Tuesday morning, and he always amazed me with his desire and enthusiasm to share the gospel with others. He will be greatly missed.
Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” Danny Sutanto
Dear Virginia and family,
My condolences to your family at this time. I got to know Bob through UOW and the STEM roadshow during my undergrad degree, and also my time refereeing rugby union in the Illawarra. His passion for STEM, teaching and his students left a mark I will always treasure. I will never forget Engineering 101 where Bob was my tutor and helped an undergrad who had no idea what was what to build a beam out of balsa wood, how to work as a team, basics of drawings and engineering reports. Honestly I mostly just remember how fun the classes were even if i can’t recall what we actually learned.
Bob was always up for a yarn about all things rugby and took a keen interest in my refereeing (particularly if it involved Uni) and he was a man who always had time for a chat.
As a high school teacher of STEM today I will remember his patience, sense of humour and interest he had in myself and many others. He will be missed greatly, and am grateful to have known him.
My deepest sympathies to his family.
I met Bob at UoW when he recruited me to join the STEM roadshow. He truly was incredible and one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met. He did amazing things encouraging 1000s of students to enter into STEM but also supported all of us through our studies in any way he could. His pure passion for engineering is something I’m so proud to have been able to see and be apart of.
Dear Virgina and your family,
Bob has always been a very memorable person in my life. A true leader and inspiration. When l was in my 4th year of my degree, my first wife was killed in a car accident leaving me with 3 young children to raise. I went blank in an exam and decided l couldn’t continue my studies needing to devote my time to my children and work. I went to tell Bob of my decision. He sat me down and said “you just need to slow down” ,take an extra year ,the degree is more important. I did this and completed with honours. It made a significant difference to my earning capacity and work life. He was a great support and human being
Craig
Bob is someone I feel fortunate to have known. He was so generous, always leaving me two gifts each time I ran into him; a smile on my face, and something to think about. My condolences to his surviving family.
My heartfelt love with the family at this time.
I am someone who what I can only describe was twice blessed by Bob. At both UNI Rugby and through his STEM outreach while teaching at ERC.
Bob was a remarkable man who alwasy tried to bring out the best in those around him. While he was not without his quirksthe legacy he leaves is a testament to both his heart and his brain.
I am unsuprised to see so many at his memorial today. While his loss will be felt by many we are all blessed for having the time we spent with him. – Brad Milner
Dear Wheway tribe,
I first met Bob at St Matthew’s Church, then as I studied engineering at UOW (UNSW as it was then). Over the years I have greatly respected Bob in both engineering and Christian circles. Bob and my late father Alex Churches also collaborated in various university activities during their respective careers.
During Jenny’s declining health, I was one of those praying, and praising God for her gracious life.
I’m sorry that I did not hear of the sad news of Bob’s promotion until after the funeral – I would have liked to attend. Michael Churches
Bob was one of my tutors at UOW during my degree. He was intelligent, decent and always kind.
Years later I would often run into him at his favourite cafe in Wollongong. Even in old age he still appeared very active and would always light up the room. An amazing guy.
My condolences to his family.
Sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. As a young lecturer he was a great mentor to me, both professionally and personally. He kept me on the straight and narrow more than once. He made an incredible contribution to the University of Wollongong and the Engineering profession over many decades. I was deeply privileged to call him a friend. He will be missed.