The Reverend Dr. Robert B. Ives

The Reverend Dr. Robert B. Ives, age 86, of Dillsburg went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg. 

   It’s been a wonderful life! Good friends, books, and coffee. As pastor of the Grantham Church for 30 years, he had all three. Born and raised in PA, Bob graduated with a chemical engineering degree from Drexel. He changed gears and went to Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA and on to Princeton Seminary and University of Manchester, England, to receive a doctoral degree in Church History in 1965.  Bob was on the staff of Park Street Church, Boston, MA, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA, and spent the next 30 years from 1971-2001 at the Brethren in Christ Church on the campus of Messiah College, where he also taught.

   Bob loved to read.  He was always part of a book club and a Bible Study.  He was a devotee of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Calvin and Hobbes, as well as the apostles Paul and John, and King David.  His goals as a pastor were to preach the Word and love the people.

   He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy; daughter, Karen Ives of Oceanside, CA; sons Brian Ives of Seattle, WA (married to Jacque), and Jeffrey Ives of Hanover, NH. Bob and Nancy have 5 grandsons: Nathan (married to Theda), Wilson, Samuel, Benjamin, and Luke.  Bob is also survived by his three siblings, Bill Ives of Tremont, PA, Vivian Even, of Colville, WA, and Sandra Hegstrom, of Winston-Salem, NC.

   A Memorial Worship Service to be held Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grantham Church, 421 Grantham Road, Mechanicsburg, PA.  It will be live-streamed on the Cocklin Funeral Home Facebook page.

   Memorials in Robert's name can be made to the Gratham Church, 421 Grantham Road, Mechanicsburg, PA  17055 or the Alzheimer's Association, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA  17110.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of The Reverend Dr. Robert B. Ives, please visit our floral store.