Milne, Robert William (1919-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Nov 15 p. 12

Birth date: 1919 Oct 12

text of obituary:

ROBERT WILLIAM MILNE

Robert William Milne, 85, of Glendale, Ariz., died Oct. 17, 2004. He was born Oct. 12, 1919, to George and Almeda (Bowman) Milne in Mannheim, Ont., the third of six children.

He grew up on a farm in Mannheim, milking cows and making cheese to sell in the local market. He loved to play hockey and softball. He also loved music, playing a harmonica and singing tenor.

As a conscientious objector to military service, he worked in a road construction camp near Lake Superior, where his main task was to bake bread for 180 men every day. He attended Ontario Mennonite Bible School, where he met Freda Mae King. He married her on Oct. 26, 1944, at Elida, Ohio.

His life was filled with a wide variety of experiences, which included two years in Beltsville, Md., working at the government agricultural station.

He also spent six years in Denbeigh, Va., as plant manager of Colony Farms Dairy and owner/operator of a small restaurant and two years in Fortuna Ledge, Alaska, under Mennonite Board of Missions, where he managed a general store and a regional Standard Oil outlet. He also lived 20 years in Goshen, Ind., where he was plant manager for Eby's Dairy in Elkhart and later helped build boats for Starcraft. For two years he lived in London, England, where he helped maintain and renovate the London Mennonite Centre. He also spent 27 years in Glendale, Ariz., where he worked in maintenance and renovation projects for Trinity Mennonite Church for eight years before he retired.

After retirement, he was a volunteer handyman, doing odd jobs for many people. He volunteered many hours at Habitat for Humanity, Faith House and Glencroft Retirement Community. His greatest fulfillment came from serving others.

Survivors include two children, Ronald Milne and Beverly Hershberger; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.