Robert Eugene Honnold, 81, of Carthage, passed Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, surrounded by family, following a history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. He was born March 11, 1934, in Sheridan, the son of Lamar and Mable (Conaway) Honnold.
In his youth, he spent countless hours working on his family’s farm and later as a teenager, bailing hay and judging in competitive livestock shows and showing sheep as part of 4H. During high school, he lettered in football, was very active in drama and a leader in livestock judging and Future Farmers of America.
He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1952 , then obtained his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees from Purdue University where he was a member of the Farm House Fraternity and honor societies for Alpha Zeta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Epsilon Sigma Phi. Upon graduation, he began a life-long career with the Extension Service, working in various positions for Purdue University throughout the state of Indiana. He then went on to obtain his Doctorate degree in Education from North Carolina State University in 1970. Following graduate school, he worked for the USDA Federal Extension Service in Washington, D.C.
He was employed at the University of Vermont from 1974-1990, initially as the associate director of the university’s extension service and later serving as director of the program. During his tenure, he worked diligently to secure grants and develop the extension service for the benefit of the university and the state of Vermont, and upon his retirement was appointed Professor Emeritus. During his years in Vermont, he was active in various youth hockey programs and was one of several individuals who established the Chittenden South Burlington Youth Hockey Association, serving several years as its President and in other capacities.
Following retirement from UVM, he and his late wife, Malia (Dean) Honnold, moved from Vermont to Indiana and enjoyed many happy years sharing in the lives of their grandchildren and breeding and showing Honnold Polled Dorset sheep. After open heart surgery, since 2002, he logged over 10,000 miles on his stationary bike, imagining himself crisscrossing America and visiting various landmarks along the way. He was a faithful attendee of the Fletcher United Methodist Church in Carthage and later Carthage Community Church and appreciated regular fellowship gatherings and the opportunity to support their food bank and homeless ministries. Bob will always be remembered for his charm, his larger than life stories, and his contagious sense of humor.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Donna-Marie Edwards Armstrong of Colorado Springs, Colo.; children, Debra (Ron) Rausch of Carthage, Denise (Jeff) Phares of McCordsville, Darla (Jerry) Nowosatko of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Cary (Shelley) Honnold of Frederick, Md.; 12 grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren; cherished nieces and nephews from the Rayle, Leary, and Brown families.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 38 years, Malia (Dean) Honnold and his sister, Carolyn (Honnold) Rayle.
Friends may call from 2 – 6 p.m. Sunday, August 16, 2015, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2015, at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, 7355 South State Road 109 in Knightstown, with Reverend Roger Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in Walnut Ridge Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Purdue Extension-Rush County Indiana 4H, 101 East Second Street, Rushville, Indiana 46173 or Carthage Community Church, 10 South Main Street, Carthage, Indiana, 46115.
You may express a condolence or share a memory of Bob at www.hinsey-brown.com.
