Dr. Robert Joseph Morris

1963 - 2016

Dr. Robert Joseph Morris, 53

MUNCIE - Dr. Robert Joseph Morris, 53, passed away early Monday, November 28, 2016 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bob was born on August 4, 1963 in Columbus, Indiana. He was the youngest son of Richard Dean and Eleva Mae (Acton) Morris.

Bob grew up in the small rural town of Elizabethtown, Indiana. His family moved to Muncie in 1972. He graduated from Wapahani high school in 1981. Soon after moving to Muncie, Bob developed a lifelong friendship with 1981 Wapahani classmates Greg Pyle, Sam Hulse, Wayne Miller and Wapahani Physics teacher Mike Elder. The five dubbed themselves "The Rondos" and have remained best friends. In his senior year at Wapahani, Bob received the coveted Edith Cline Hilton Scholarship to attend Ball State University, where he graduated Summa cum laude in 1986, with a B.S. in Chemistry.

He was accepted to the University of Illinois PhD Inorganic Chemistry program under the direction of Mentor Dr. Greg Girolami, graduating in 1990. Bob was the co-recipient of the Theron Standish Piper Award. He then went on to be a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley (1990-91). Bob quickly accepted a position as a professor of Chemistry at Ball State University in 1991. Impactful and beloved by his students, he was soon tenured and later became Chair of the BSU Chemistry Department. After several years as Chemistry Chair, he accepted a position as Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Ball State, which he held for many years. For the last several months, Bob had been working in the position of acting Provost for Ball State. He worked closely with acting Ball State President Terry King and dearly loved the university. Bob was tremendously involved with numerous events, committees, etc. His reputation at Ball State is impeccable and well respected.

Bob was an avid golfer, enjoyed swimming, and loved traveling with his family. He thrived on helping those around him achieve their best and had a way of making anyone in his presence feel special. This attribute undoubtedly was handed down from his maternal grandfather Charles Acton. Bob was massively intelligent, with a quick wit and endless supply of jokes. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Bob is survived by the love of his life, high school sweetheart and wife Sandy (Kisner) Morris. They were married June 1, 1985 and had two children, Chelsea Anne Morris and Jacob Charles Morris. Also surviving is an older brother, Richard Dean Morris II (wife Kelly), several nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Dean and Eleva Mae (Acton) Morris.

Family and friends may call at First Presbyterian Church, 1400 W. Riverside Ave., from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2016 and Monday, December 5, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 1:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1400 West Riverside Avenue, Muncie. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sandra K. and Robert J. Morris Fund #30241. This fund was set up by Sandy and Bob to financially assist incoming Ball State students majoring in Nursing and Chemistry. To donate, please contact L. Jackson from the Ball State Foundation @ Lejackson@bsu.edu

Memorial donations may also be made to the "Robert J. Morris Graduate Students in Inorganic Chemistry Award". https://portal.uif.uillinois.edu/UIF-billing-form

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com