Robert Gaskins

JACKSONVILLE - Robert B. "Bob" Gaskins, 86, of Jacksonville, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2014, at Liberty Commons Assisted Living Center.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. George Speake officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park.

Bob Gaskins moved to Jacksonville in 1950. He became the Music Director at Jacksonville Senior High School, a position he held for 29 years. He also served as principal there in 1956. In 1963, he started the Jacksonville Spring Musical. He was the Cultural Arts Director from 1979 until 1989 and served as the President of both the North Carolina Music Educators and the Southern Division of the National Association of Music Educators. Additionally, he spent 16 years on the Onslow County Board of Education and ten years as the Chairman of the Onslow County School Board. As one of the founding members of the Onslow Community Concert Association, he helped to bring professional performers in all musical styles to the community for all citizens to enjoy. He was instrumental in bringing the acclaimed North Carolina Symphony to Onslow County to perform annually for the community and free of charge for fourth grade students in our schools. In 1989, Mr. Gaskins decided to retire after 39 years of dedicated service to the Onslow County Schools. During his retirement celebration, Mr. Gaskins was presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the Governor's Award which is the state's highest honor for civilians based on his contributions to education and the arts in Onslow County. Mr. Gaskins also received the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by the East Carolina University School of Music and was inducted into the North Carolina Music Educators' Association Hall of Fame.

In 2009, he was the recipient of the Jacksonville-Onslow Civic Award and was honored in 2013 to have the auditorium at Jacksonville High School dedicated the Robert B. Gaskins Auditorium.

Mr. Gaskins was the son of the late Wardie Gaskins and Mabel Chadwick Gaskins Mayo. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Minnie Caison Gaskins; and grandson, Caison Allen Gaskins.

Survivors include his wife, Malinda Bangs Gaskins of Jacksonville; one daughter, Brenda Gaskins Sanford and her husband, Richard of Mt. Airy, Md.; one son, Ward Gaskins and his wife, Belinda of Cary; two step-daughters, Kimberly Babb of Winchester, Va. and Patricia Babb of Charlotte; two step-brothers, Alfred Mayo of New Bern and Hallet Mayo of Goldsboro; and two grandchildren, Thomas Kirtland and Meghan Parkinson.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc., PO Box 233, Jacksonville, N.C. 28541 - onslowcounty.schoolinsites.com.

Electronic condolences may be left for the family at jonesfh.org and JDNews.com.

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