Robert (Bob) Blevins

Robert (Bob) Blevins, age 92, died on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at his home in Chandler, Arizona.

He is survived by his daughter Robin Blevins Cummins (Don), son John David Blevins (Nancy), grandchildren Alison Barnhart (Ryan), Erin Kahne (Patrick), Matthew Blevins and Laura Cummins. He was also very proud to be the great grandfather of 2 beautiful great-grandchildren, Claire Barnhart and Aiden Kahne, both two years old. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Carolyn Crace Blevins, and son Robert Crace Blevins.

Bob was a graduate of Campbellsville High School and attended University of Kentucky where he received his Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees in Agronomy.  He later attended Ohio State University where he was awarded a PhD in Agronomy.

During the Korean War, he attended the US Navy Officers’ Candidate School and then served his country as a Lieutenant JG aboard the USS Sturtevant. During his service, he was granted leave to marry his long-time girlfriend Carolyn Crace. Soon after, they started their family.

After discharge from the Navy, Bob started his career working for the Agricultural Extension Agency and the Soil Conservation Service in various rural communities in Kentucky. After advancing his education, he joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, as a professor where he taught agronomy classes for over 3 decades. During this time he was also dedicated to advancing research in no-till farming techniques and measuring their impact on soil conservation and erosion prevention.

During the early 1970’s, Bob accepted an opportunity to move his family to Thailand, where he worked as a visiting professor with the US Agency for International Development for 2 years. This around-the-world experience revealed a world much larger to Bob and his family. He continued international work which took him to Ecuador, Bangladesh, and the Dominican Republic.

The Blevins family continued travelling the world on family vacations and spent many winters in Arizona visiting children and grandchildren. After retiring, Bob and Carolyn bought a house in Phoenix and eventually made Arizona their home.

They attended Central Baptist Church in Lexington, KY where they made wonderful friends, taught Sunday School and demonstrated faith. Their Central Baptist friendships endured through all the challenges of life, and the love flows even after deaths.

Bob spent his final years among loving friends and caring staff at Brookdale on Ray. He had the opportunity to say farewell to his loved ones in his final days. He will be remembered as a quiet, kind, gentle family man and role model.

A grave site service will be held on Saturday, May 25th, at 2:00 PM in Campbellsville, Kentucky at the Brookside Cemetery for both Bob and Carolyn.