Rev. C. Robert Landis

HARLAN — The Reverend C. Robert Landis will be sadly missed by Harlan County.

C. Robert Landis, age 78, 313 Walnut Lane, Harlan entered his eternal rest on May 26,2014 at Harlan Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

He was born in Lancaster County, PA on May 23, 1936 to Elmer K. and Mary Etta Landis. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. He also received his master's degree in education from Union College in Barbourville, KY.

He felt a call to missions in his teen years which led him to the Red Bird Missionary Conference in Beverly, KY. Over his years of service to the Red Bird Missionary Conference, he served on numerous committees. He taught school at Jack's Creek, a Red Bird Mission School in Leslie County and, while there, pastored the Jack's Creek and the Bowens Creek United Methodist Churches for ten years.

In 1976, he became pastor at Mary Helen United Methodist Church in Harlan County and, later, Cranks United Methodist Church. For a short while, he also served as pastor at a church in Evarts. He faithfully served the churches at Mary Helen and Cranks until his death. In his years in Harlan County, Bob was also active in many civic and community organizations. A few of the organizations he served were the ARH Advisory Board, the CAA Board, and the 4-H Council. In 2013, the new 4-H building was named in honor of him and his wife. Through his service to this area, he touched many lives beyond his congregations and was a positive influence throughout the county. He enjoyed working with youth in school, church , 4-H, vacation Bible schools, and Camp O' Cumberlands, always encouraging young people to accept the saving power of Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives. He also demonstrated love and acceptance and offered godly guidance and encouragement to all who came to him. Preacher Landis took a lot of pride in the landscapes of his home and churches and loved working outside, planting shrubs and flowers to make his home and church lawns attractive. He spent countless hours creating special church events and seasonal church services to enrich the spiritual lives of his congregations.

Preacher Bob, as he was affectionately known, will be missed by all who knew him and especially by his family and church families. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elaine Groff Landis, his three children, Michael and Michelle Landis, Harlan; David and Leah Landis, Calvert City; and Susan and Brian Pennington, Morehead. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Emily, Abby, and Ben Landis, Harlan; Jacob and Ethan Landis, Calvert City; and Nathan and Aaron Pennington, Morehead. He was a doting grandfather who was proud of each of his grandchildren and all their accomplishments. He especially enjoyed and looked forward to their family vacations at the beach.

Funeral services for Reverend Landis will be held at the Harlan United Methodist Church with visitation Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted by Reverend Jamie Brunk on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Harlan United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery.

Men of the Mary Helen and Cranks United Methodist Churches will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Mary Helen and Cranks United Methodist Churches, 85 Circle Pine Drive, Coalgood, KY 408L8 or Red Bird Christian School, 70 Queendale Center, Beverly, KY 40913.