April 8, 1930 – April 25, 2023
Rev. Robert W. Irvin, a resident of Fishers, died on April 25, 2023, at Prairie Lakes Health Care Facility in Fishers and entered his eternal heavenly home to live with his Lord and Savior, Jesus.
He was born on April 8, 1930, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as the second son to Wilfrid F. Irvin and Hazel E. Carter (with his older brother, Warren, having died at birth). He attended Humberside Collegiate in West Toronto. Robert (Bob) met Joyce Thorn and started their courtship in 1952. Bob later attended Central Baptist Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, and London Bible College preparing to be a minister. While at Moody, Bob enjoyed being a student radio producer and served as the feature editor for the student newspaper. During this time, Bob and Joyce wrote hundreds of letters back and forth until they were married on September 6, 1957.
Bob and Joyce served the Lord in churches in Toronto and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, before moving to Wheaton, Ill., in 1967. While in Wheaton, Bob served at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago on the Dean of Students staff and eventually served as Dean of Students. Following Moody, they moved back to Canada in 1983 where Bob served as Senior Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Coburg, Ontario. He and Joyce partnered again as they finished out their ministry career in missions with Slavic Gospel Association in Canada.
In 2008, Bob and Joyce fully retired and returned to the States where they lived in Fishers. While they missed Canada, they enjoyed watching their grandkids grow up, all of whom lived in Illinois and Indiana. They were also active at Faith Church of Indianapolis. Bob loved time with his family and relished being Papa to his grandkids and great grandkids.
Bob was a man that loved Jesus and saw His hand in every part of life. That made him follow Jesus and trust Him through 16 years as a pastor, 16 years at Moody and over eight years at SGA. His life verse was Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord will all your heart, lean not on your understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
He is survived by his children, Mark Irvin (Sharon), Janice Burlingame (Mark), Carol Clement (Rob), and Paul Irvin (Julie), eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Joyce.
Visitation will be brief and held at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, immediately followed by a memorial service at 11:45 a.m., with Rev. Mark Irvin and Rev. Paul Irvin officiating at Randall & Roberts Fishers Mortuary, 12010 Allisonville Road, Fishers.
Interment will be private and held at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Indianapolis.
Condolences: randallroberts.com