Robert William Munch

ITHACA - Robert W. Munch - On November 9, 2015 Bob completed Life's Journey, finished the work God gave him to do and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Bob's lifetime goal was always to help others lives become a little easier in any way he could. A generous, caring and compassionate man, he always put the needs of others first. He pursued many various endeavors during his working years, retiring from the Farmers Home Administration in 1996, after 25 years of service. He especially enjoyed assisting young farmers to become established in business and then watching and helping them become successful. He helped hundreds of low income rural residents realize, their lifetime dream of owning their own home. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was an active member of the National Rifle Association. Bob was a member of the North Presbyterian Church in Binghamton, NY; attended several local Ithaca Churches and for several years, has been associated with the Shepherds Chapel, Gravette, Arkansas. Bob was born in Binghamton, NY on July 11, 1937 the son of the late Jack O. and Ella Wilcox Munch of Smyrna, NY. He lived in Ithaca for over 40 years. He graduated from Lewiston - Porter High School in Lewiston, NY in 1956 going on to graduate from SUNY Morrisville, with honors, in 1960 and then from Cornell University, in the upper one third of his class, in 1967.
Bob is survived by his children, Robert of Urbana, OH; Douglas (Karen) of Chesterfield, VA and Deborah of Stamford, CT; grandchildren, Courtney (Jonathan) Barnes of Chesterfield, VA and Matthew of Bethesda, MD; sister, Margaret (Robert) Berds of Youngstown, NY; brother-in-law, Ken Galas of Clarence, NY; a niece, Tina Berds of Rochester, NY; nephew, John (Ingrid Reymers) Munch of Colden, NY; longtime friend, Mary Reynolds of Ithaca; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth Galas, nephew, Stephen Berds and longtime friend and companion, Montana Goodsell in January 2015.
Funeral services will be held at 12 pm, Saturday, November 14, 2015 at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 W. Main St., Dryden, NY with Rev. Steven Reese officiating. Burial will follow at West Hill Cemetery, Sherburne, NY. Friends may call from 11 - 12 prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, Bob requests donations be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., 6390 Fly Road, 2nd Floor, East Syracuse, NY 13057 or the American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com