Robert Clay Cummins, maternal grandfather, 1902- 1943, died in WWII in Hawaii by Mary Cummins

Robert Clay Cummins, Robert C Cummins, findagrave, billiongraves, mary cummins, Los Angeles, California, 1902 1943, Hawaii, wwii, world war II, captain, university of georgia, texas, oklahoma, james madison cummins, catherine "katie" hill, ochiltree, 

Robert Clay Cummins was born January 26, 1902 in Bristow, Oklahoma. His parents were James Madison Cummins 1860-1937 and Catherine "Katie" Hill. His half sibling was Lu Zetta Cummins 1886-1919. His full siblings were Rose "Rosetta" Marie Cummins, James Samuel Cummins 1893-1918, Jess Bryant Cummins 1896-1976, Helena Cummins 1899-1975, Clara June Cummins. His spouse was Maria Luisa Rivera Baz 1899-1991. His granddaughters are Mary Julie Ruch (Kelly Wolff) b. 1960, Juliette Marie Cobb (Juliette Cummins) b. 1964 and Mary Cummins b. 1965.

Robert Cummins' parents were farmers in Oklahoma, Texas and Santa Rosa, California. The family moved to Perrytown, Ochiltree, Texas around 1920. Robert was an honor student at the University of George. He'd "won several awards as an outstanding person in the field of engineering."

Robert met his wife Maria Luisa Rivera Baz around 1928 while she lived in Douglas, Arizona with her sister Enriqueta Rivera Vigneaux. August 11, 1928 they were married in Douglas, Conchise County, Arizona at the home of Fr. F. L. Rousselle a Catholic priest. They honeymooned in Hot Springs, New Mexico and Iowa. They returned to Amarillo, Texas to live.

"Cumming-Rivera Baz. Announcement of the engagement of Miss Mary L. Rivera Baz, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Rivera, to Robert C. (sic) Cumming, of (sic) Amarilla, Texas, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. (sic) Cumming, has been made. The marriage will take place Saturday evening at 8:30 at the home of Fr. F. L. Rousselle (Rev. Fernand Louis Rouselle b. 1881 Paris, France) and he will perform the ceremony. The young couple will leave immediately after the marriage for a honeymoon trip which will take them to Hot Springs, NM and to Iowa. They plan to be away a month and will then make their home in Amarillo where (sic) Cumming is employed."

March 6, 1936 Robert Cummins arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii with the US Civil Corps of engineers.

Robert and Maria had a few children which died at birth or soon after. 1937 Marie Juliette Cummins was born in El Paso, Texas.

July 29, 1943 Robert went back to Honolulu, Hawaii with the military. He was stationed at Kahuku, Honolulu, HI.

September 11, 1943 Robert Cummins and William S Palmer were on a bulldozer which rolled into deep water from the lagoon reef edge because of a cave-in.

Honolulu Star Bulletin, pg 1. "Body of Second Man Located in Keehi. Seen floating this afternoon in Keehi lagoon, the body of William S. Palmer, war worker drowned in a work accident Thursday, was to be taken to the city-county morgue. Palmer and Robert Clay  Cummins, 41, whose body was recovered earlier today, were on a bulldozer which Deputy Coroner Moses Branco said rolled into deep water from the lagoon reef edge apparently because of a cave-in. The men came here from the mainland and had been here about six weeks."

March 2, 1944, Oak Park, Illinois. "Capt. Cummins Killed in Hawaii; Army Engineer. Mrs. J. H. Gregg of 406 South Grove, has been notified by the War Department of the death of her brother, Capt. Robert C. Cummins, in Honolulu; Capt. Cummins was an officer in the regular service of the U. S. Army Engineers, and had been in Honolulu since 1939. While on an inspection tour with his company, a caterpillar tractor on which he was standing, fell through a hole in a coral reef and all men were dashed into the sea. Two days later the bodies were recovered and Capt. Cummins was interred at Schofield Post cemetery for the duration. An honor student at the university of Georgia, he has won several awards as an outstanding person in the field of engineering. Capt. Cummins is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Cummins of Dallas, Texas, and is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mary R. Cummins and daughter Juliette of San Diego, Calif., three sisters, Mrs. Gregg of Oak Park, Mrs. J. E. Chare and Mrs. A. F. Murray of San Francisco, and one brother, J. B. Cummins of Amarillo, Texas." Mar 02, 1944, p. 51 - Oak Park Oak Leaves Newspaper Archives.

"Southland's Returned Warrior Dead Named. Official List for Funeral Transport Docking at Oakland Also includes Next to Kin. Here is the complete list of Southern Californa was dead returned to Oakland yesterday on board the transport Honda Knot. Names of next of kin also are contained in this roster. CUMMINS, Robert C., Civ. Mrs. Mary R Cummins, 972 22nd St." October 11, 1947, Los Angeles Times, Part I, pg 4.

March 26, 1948 Robert Cummins was interred at Point Loma Military Cemetery in San Diego, Section F, lot 163. His wife Mary Rivera Cummins is buried with him. Her name is inscribed on the other side of his headstone.