Robert Louis “Bob” Dickinson, 76 of Gorham died Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at the Hays Good Samaritan Center in Hays, Kansas.

Bob was born May 2, 1934 in Ellis County the son of Robert Leland and Shirley Margaret (Beller) Dickinson.  He grew up on the family farm in northeast Ellis County and graduated from Paradise High School in 1952.  He then attended Kansas State University where he received a degree in Animal Science.

Bob was united in marriage to Janice Miller on October 21, 1956 in Manhattan, Kansas.  This union was blessed with four children; Kirk, Sheryl, Valerie and Cathy.

Bob was a rancher and farmer in Ellis County, but also was a devoted husband and father.

Bob was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hays where he served on the building committee and the Session of Elder.  He was a Charter member of the American Simmental Association in 1968 serving as chairman two years.  A founding member and past President of the Kansas Simmental Association, member of the Kansas Livestock Association and represented Ellis County on the KLA board of directors from 1986 to 1988.  He served as chairman two years on the Beef Improvement Federation, Soil Conservation Board Chairman and received soil conservation bankers award in 1968.  He belonged to Farm Bureau Association and received the Century Farm award in 2009.  He was involved with the local Coop Board, the Ellis County Fair Board and the Ellis County Extension Board.  He enjoyed working with and promoting the beef  industry.  He traveled many places promoting cattle.  He loved keeping up on all sporting activities of his grandchildren and listening to the K-State games on the radio.

Surviving family include his wife of 53 years, Janice of the home; four children, Kirk Dickinson and wife Coleen of Gorham, Kansas, Sheryl Wambold and husband Bill of Petaluma, California, Valerie Kostelansky and husband Bruce of Ft. Maclead, Canada and Cathy Musick and husband Doug of Alma, Kansas; three sisters, Karen Ganoung of Hoisington, Kansas, Janet Nordlund of Elkhorn, Nebraska and Margaret Beyer and husband George of Wichita, Kansas; and 11 grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Celebration of Robert’s Life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Hays with Pastor Richard Glasgow officiating.  Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 AM to 8 PM Friday, September 17, 2010 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell with the family present to greet friends from 6 PM to 7 PM.  A memorial has been established with the First Presbyterian Church of Hays.  Contributions and condolences may be sent in care of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell who is in charge of these arrangements.