Robert Kenneth VanDevender Sr.

Services for Robert Kenneth VanDevender Sr. will be held Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 10:00 am at Union Hill Church in DeKalb. Bro. Walt Tessier will be officiating. Stephens Funeral Home of DeKalb is in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow in the Union Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5pm to 7pm at the funeral home in DeKalb.

Mr. VanDevender, 89, of Dekalb passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2016 from multiple health issues. He was a farmer in Kemper County all of his life, attended Spring Hill School and graduated from DeKalb High School, and served in the Army. He enjoyed sports, westerns and especially storytelling and was keenly interested in politics. He was a life-long member of Union Hill Church, and lived his whole life in the home in which he was born.

Mr. VanDevender was survived by his wife of 55 years, Janie Fay Aust VanDevender; his daughter and son-in-law, Holly V. Wiggins and Marvin E. Wiggins, Jr. of DeKalb; son Robert Kenneth VanDevender Jr. of Greenwood; his son and daughter in law, Tol Hunter VanDevender and Sheila P. VanDevender of Shuqualak; five grandsons, Matthew Wiggins, Jonathan Wiggins, Jack VanDevender, Christopher Newman and Cole Newman; two granddaughters, Elizabeth VanDevender and Jayne Wiggins.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Janie Marguerite VanDevender; his parents, Oswald N. VanDevender and Berta Hunter VanDevender; his two brothers Leon VanDevender and Waldo VanDevender and his two sisters, Rowena V. Hailey and Marguerite V. Long.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested any memorials be sent to Union Hill Church, c/o 1056 Ross Road, DeKalb, MS 39328 or to the Gideons International.