Rev. Robert Ansley Roof

September 24, 1925 - January 24, 2021

Robert A (Bob) Roof, returned to the Lord on Sunday, January 24th after a short illness. He was 95. He was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Shirley, in 2015, and their firstborn infant daughter Barbara Ann, as well as his parents and three siblings. He is survived by his four sons, Bob (Kay) of Manchester, John (Beth) of Cedar Rapids, Pete (Chris) of Duncan, Arizona, and Tom (Tina) of Cedar Falls, as well as his younger sister, Nancy Pax of New York. He and Shirley were also blessed with ten grandchildren and multiple great grandchildren. Bob was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He joined the Navy during WWII as a signalman on a Landing Craft, and returned to Buffalo where he and Shirley reunited and were married. He worked in electronics repair temporarily, but subsequently felt that he was called to the ministry. He attended college at Westminster College in New Castle, PA, and then Seminary at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The family moved to Des Moines in 1957 where he was an associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 1963, the family again moved, this time to Cedar Falls. He became pastor of Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church and was there for many years until retirement. During his tenure at Cedar Heights, he attended UNI and got his master’s in counseling and used that in his ministry. He and Shirley were a steady positive force in the community throughout their lives in Cedar Falls. They were heavily invested in service with the American Cancer Society for years, and developed many friendships and were joyful with their experiences related to that. Bob also enjoyed golf and was a voracious reader. Most of all, he was a family man who led by his quiet example: Proverbs 3 seemed to be a favorite scripture. The Roof household was always open for friends, family, food, and a good cup of coffee: He touched so many in his life and will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Robert’s Life will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church, with private inurnment of both Robert and Shirley in the Fairview Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. The service will be livestreamed from the church’s Facebook page. Memorials can be directed to Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church, or the American Cancer Society.