Robert B. Haywood, 78, Warsaw, passed away at 6:10 p.m. May 20, 2014, at Grace Village Health Care, Winona Lake. He was born Sept. 19, 1935, in Dock, Ky., to Willie and Cassie Mae Justice Haywood. On Aug. 28, 1959, he married Christenna Reffitt Haywood, who survives in Warsaw. He served in the United States Marine Corps from October 1958 until his honorable discharge in September 1962, and remained in the reserves until Sept. 30, 1964. He had worked for Dalton Foundries in Warsaw for 36 years as a journeyman mechanic, retiring in 2001. In the early 1970s he played banjo for the Full Gospel Singers, singing in many churches in the south and midwest. He pastored the United Baptist Church in Tippecanoe from 1987 until the mid-1990s when he started Harvest Time Ministries in Warsaw and served the church faithfully until his recent illness. Also surviving are two sons, Robert M. (and spouse Annie) Haywood, Warsaw, and Amos W. Haywood, Roann; one daughter, Emilie “Ami” (husband David) Pitt, Warsaw; 11 grandchildren: April, Caleb, Meghan, Christiann and Emma Haywood; Julia Skye (and spouse Nick) Eaton; Canaan William Haywood; Kyle Cosner; Sarah (and spouse Aaron) Baier; and Rissa and Carolyn Pitt; two great-grandsons; his mother, Cassie Mae (and spouse Justice) Haywood Shepherd, Warsaw; mother-in-law, Emma Reffitt, Warsaw; three brothers: Burl (and spouse Lana), Bill (and spouse Virginia) and Joe (and spouse Sandy) Haywood, all of Warsaw; and four sisters: Rebecca (and spouse Clyde) Arnett, Claypool; Virginia (and spouse Alvin) Rockhill, Goshen; Judy (and spouse Jim) Brumbaugh, Milford; Fannie (and spouse Dan) Widaman, Warsaw. He was preceded in death by his father, two grandchildren and his brother, Johnnie Haywood. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with Pastor Terry Bradford officiating. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post #49 and VFW #1126, both of Warsaw, and the Indiana ARNG Honor Guard. Calling is from 3 to 5 and from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. ***** Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
