Robert Frank Cosens Sr.

Robert was born at home in Miami, Florida to Lytton William Sydney Cosens and Lilly Mae (Strange) Cosens. There were two older brothers, Lytton and Donald, and later a sister, Elizabeth. The family increased to seven children when an aunt died and Robert’s parents took in her children, one son Eddie and 2 daughters, Dorothy (Dottie) and Cora Mae, to live with their own family. Robert finished his GED while serving in the Navy Airborne Early Warning Squadron. After discharge he apprenticed as a journeyman wireman with the IBEW Miami local union 349. He remained a member of local 349 for over 50 years. His work as a union electrician took him all over the U.S.A. In the 1970’s he and his wife, Bonnie, and their four children, Cindy, Rob, Randy and Joe moved from Florida to Las Vegas. Robert left Las Vegas in 1984 moving to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where his brother, Donald, was working at the King Kahlid International Airport. While employed there he worked as the manager of airfield lighting and then as the manager of landside electrical. Saudi Arabia is also where he met Cindy Smalling, his present wife. During this time Robert expanded his love of people by traveling to countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and others. He never met a stranger regardless of the language or culture. Favorite activities besides traveling included square dancing, camping in the dessert, visiting family, and entertaining friends. Robert and Cindy returned to America in 1996 to live with his mom in Cocoa, Florida. After her death, Robert and Cindy moved to Grand Prairie, Texas where they have resided since 2001. Robert retired from the union in 2002. He loved people and loved to talk and tell his Saudi and travel stories. Trips to Tanzania to visit his brother-in-laws also provided fun tales for him to relate. He loved to tell jokes and stories and he loved children. He was great at helping kids get into trouble and have fun doing it.

It was his love of his children, family, church family and friends and his confidence that God loved him without reservation that has sustained him through several years of deteriorating health. The final blow of the rapid and aggressive spread of cancer did not take away that confidence and love. The cancer could only take away his earthly life and free him to claim his eternal life with his family in heaven. Robert is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lytton and Eddie, sisters Elizabeth and Cora Mae, and his daughter, Cindy. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Cindy Smalling-Cosens, sons Robert Frank, Jr. (Rob) of Danforth, Ill.; Randell (Randy) and his wife Sharon of Huntsville, Ala.; Joseph (Joe) of Las Vegas, Nv.; brother Donald and his wife Laverne of Morristown, Tn.; sister Dorothy (Dottie) and her husband Jack Smith of West Palm Beach, Fl.; 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren as well as multiple nieces, nephews and extended family. And so today you left, Robert. You did not need to stay here longer. God’s loving arms freed you from the struggle and pain of the past few weeks and you won a new life. Your weakness and pain are gone now. Your body is new. Your spirit is free to stand in God’s presence and experience pure joy. Know that we love and miss you. Selfishly we would have kept you here. But we love you and we had to let you go too soon. We search for joy in your triumph – but it will take a while for us left here \to find it. We know that you will be patient. We love you.