Robert "Bob" William Hayward Jr

Robert “Bob” William Hayward, Jr., 91, of Princeton, Illinois passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Liberty Village in Princeton surrounded by his family.

Bob was the eldest son of Robert W. Hayward, Sr and Ida May (nee Turner) Hayward and was born on February 7,1933 in Fairfield, IL.  He married Ruth Adelaide Robinson on June 25, 1955, in Urbana, IL.

Bob attended Fairfield Schools and graduated from Fairfield Community High School in 1950.  He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated in 1954 with a B.S. in Agriculture.  He later earned a Master’s Degree in Extension Education in 1974 from the U of I.

In February 1955, he began his career with the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Services as an assistant youth adviser in Wayne County, IL.  On December 7, 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, served 20 months in active duty with the Pacific Seventh Fleet, and received an Honorable Discharge on December 19,1961.  He then resumed his career with the U of I Cooperative Extension Services as an assistant farm adviser in Jacksonville, Morgan County, IL for 5 years, then as a farm adviser for 20 years in Mount Sterling, Brown County, IL, and as Extension Adviser 2 in Bureau County for 10 years.

Bob was a member of the Illinois Extension Advisers Association serving as president in 1989.  He was an active member of the National Association County Agricultural Agents (NACAA).   He served as Chairman of the Awards and Recognition committee and as an editor of the national meeting proceedings. In 1974, Bob was awarded the NACAA Distinguished Service Award.

After his Extension career, Bob performed part-time survey work for the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service; and inspector for the Illinois Crop Improvement Association and for Pioneer Seed Corn.

In his youth, Bob was an active member of DeMolay and Boys Scouts of America and earned the God & Country and the Eagle Scout Awards. As an adult, he was an active member of Princeton Rotary Club (a Paul Harris Fellow), Princeton Masonic Lodge, and member of the Burlington Route Historical Society.  He served over 30 years on the Princeton Tourism Committee.  He was an active member of Princeton United Methodist Church and served on financial committees & the administrative board as a member & chairman.  The Order of DeMolay awarded Bob with the Allegiant of Honor in recognition of outstanding leadership in some field of endeavor.  He worked with youth during his Boy Scout years and with 4H Clubs during his Extension career.

Bob & Ruth enjoyed many activities with their close friends Dwain & Sandra Smith of Mount Sterling, IL.  The two couples celebrated New Year’s Eve together for over 5 decades and enjoyed many domestic vacation trips together.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ruth Hayward and two sons, Greg Hayward (wife Louisa) and Bill Hayward (wife Denise); two grandchildren, Chris Hayward and Katie Hayward, DVM (husband Ben Lewis), and great granddaughter, Charlotte Hayward.  Bob is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law, Shirley Hayward, Edith Terwilliger, and Elaine Bailey; one brother-in-law John Terwilliger, close friend, Dwain Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ida May Hayward, his brothers, Frank and James Hayward, two sisters-in-law, Janet Hayward and Carol Moore, two brothers-in-law, Russell Moore and Peter Bailey, one nephew, John Richard Terwilliger, his parents-in-law, Harold and Helen Robinson, and close friend Sandra Smith.

Visitation will be held from 4:00pm-6:00pm on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home in Princeton, followed by Masonic Service at 6:00pm. Funeral service will be 11:00am on Friday, November 1, 2024 at Princeton First United Methodist Church in Princeton with Pastor Michael Hickok, officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service at Oakland Cemetery in Princeton with Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Bureau County Senior Center or Princeton First United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.grant-johnsonfh.com.