Notes:
Data source is Margo Elaine Mumma. E-mail MargoMumma@comcast.net
ROBERT "BOB" MUMMA
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Robert "Bob" Mumma, 78, passed peacefully Dec. 18, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Bob and his twin sister, Mary, were born to Keith Eugene and Floy (Kilbourn) Mumma in Corydon, IA, on Sept. 30, 1931. Raised on a farm near Allerton, he lost his leg in a horse-drawn mowing accident at age 11 and saved his own life. Bob graduated from Allerton High School and Iowa State Teacher's College in Ames where he was team manager for the Iowa State basketball team.
After marriage to Margaret Ellen Jackson of Corydon, Bob expanded the vocational agriculture curriculum at Earlham High School to include night classes for adults. During six years there, he: taught vocational ag, professionally managed several farms, earned his Master's Degree in Education Administration from Drake University and saw the birth of his three children.
Bob returned to Wayne County as Corydon High School Principal for three years. However, he jumped at the chance to farm and moved his family to the Lineville area in 1964 where his inventive and frugal nature served him well. Bob again supplemented his income by taking a "day" job with the startup Community Action Program for South Central Iowa.
Serving his community became a career exceeding 30 years. One of seven programs chosen to pilot Community Development Credit Unions nationally, Bob's was the only to survive. He helped reorganize the community development movement and was a founding member and a director of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions for over 20 years. While Bob was president of the Iowa Consumer's League, the organization sponsored a screening the movie "All the President's Men"with a live appearance by Robert Redford. During the difficult 70's, he also was involved with the Iowa Cattleman's Association, sending a train car of cattle to the Secretary of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. as a way to publicize farm issues of the time. In retirement, Bob served the Lineville Clio School Board and the Wayne Community Foundation.
Bob enjoyed his second family for over 20 years during his marriage to the late Shirley Etchison Mumma. Finally, Bob was fortunate to share more than six happy years retiring from service and farming while traveling and dancing with his "Miss Mary Lou."
Bob is survived by Mary Lou Forsythe; children, Margo Mumma of Minnetonka, MN, Roger Mumma (and wife, Debra) of North English, and Larry Mumma (and wife, Katherine) of Ankeny; stepchildren, Connie Robinson (and husband, Joe), and Bonnie Vestal (and husband, Terry) all of Bondurant, Jodie Duffield of Lineville, Kitty Gage (and husband, Kenney) of Red Oak, Kathy White (and husband, Wayne) of Garden Grove, Chris Neal of Lineville, and Gary Neal of Knoxville; a nephew, Keith Mumma III (and wife, Deb) of Valley, Neb., a niece, Dixie Helder (and husband, Jeff) of Springfield, Mo.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; 12 stepgrandchildren; and many stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by Shirley Etchison Mumma; a stepson, Craig Etchison; two sisters, his twin Mary McDaniel and Marie McDaniel; and by his brother Keith Mumma II.
Funeral services were held Dec. 21 at Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel in Lineville with the Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Burial was in the Corydon Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lineville United Methodist Church.