Robert, first, attended Witness for Christ where he immediately excelled in academics. He graduated from Pike High School after completing his sophomore and junior years at Washburn High School in Minneapolis where he was an editor of the school newspaper.
Growing up, he's always had a love for various music genres and a gift for the spoken and the written word. At one time, Robert and his friend, William "Mano" Fulcher, formed a spoken word group that was titled Wasted Intellect. Later, they became TDG and produced underground studio tracks over the years.
Though Robert had Ivy League schools writing to him, he decided to earn his OLS Bachelor's degree at Purdue University in West Lafayette on December 17, 2001 and a BS in Nursing with honors at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis on December 17, 2005.
Robert work many different jobs between high school and college. Though, while in college, he mainly worked as a cook for Outback Steakhouse in both the Lafayette and Indianapolis locations. Upon graduating, he worked as an ICU/PCU, RN at Community Hospital North. However, no matter where he worked, he was valued, touched many lives, and made many friends.
If you had an appetite, then Robert would make sure it was feed. He enjoyed cooking for any and everyone. His steak seasonings and cooking techniques were the best. If you didn't like your steak rare, then you would after he cooked it. Additionally, he'd happily share his seasoning combinations and marinates with anyone that would listen, but barely ever wrote his recipes down. They were often attempted by friends and family with failure to cook them well.
When it came to his hair, Robert's hairstyles have always demanded attention. He grew beautiful dread-locks down his back the prior eight years to his resting date. In September 1997, he had a combed back "Goldie" shag when D. Loyd, his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brother, introduced him to his future wife, Aaron Marie Ivey.
Throughout the years, she showed him real love, compassion, support, and patience. He tried to resist, but she won his heart which lead to him purposing at Elmo's Steakhouse on his birthday in 2002.
From their union, three beautiful children were born between 2001 and 2007: Adira Marie, Aria Marie, and Aiden Anthony. Though, Robert could certainly wear a hard shell, he melted for and constantly bragged about his children to co-workers and friends. He gave them each a nickname ("Gizmo", "Pooper", and "Spud-Lee"; Spud-Lee later changed to "Boy!"), but generally called them his "babies."
On his nights off, he looked forward to "Daddy Time" which consisted of their choice of him cooking or ordering in. Afterwards, they would select a movie and then make a huge pallet in the family room. If his babies didn't agree, then it was nothing for him to cook several different meals or stop at several different restaurants just to make them happy. This genuine love was also extended to his nephews and cousins.
Robert held not only cooking and his family dear, but also the memories, knowledge and the different bonds held with his grandparents who preceded him in death: Robert Marshall; Minnie Greer Marshall-Barlow; Ulis Grant Barlow , Grady McFarland; and Lucinda Bridgeforth Crider McFarland.
To forever cherish his memory, he leaves his wife: Aaron Marie Crider; three "babies:" Adira Marie Crider, Aria Marie Crider, and Aiden Anthony Crider; father: Derek Anthony Crider; mother: Lucinda Marie Marshall-Dowdell; step-father: Joe Dowdell; two sisters: Christina Covington & Sarah Pitt (Brian); one step-sister: Miesha Dowdell; two step-brothers: Phillip Dowdell (Ruby) and Joe Dowdell, Jr (Tia); devoted aunts: Alma Jean Bewaji, Earnestine Fulton (Pete), and Roberta Elaine (Bryan); a dedicated uncle: Micheal Greer (Denmark, TN); 2 nephews: Azarius Josiah Davis & Derrick Russell, Jr.; loving god parents: Steven & Diane Irving (Bowie, MD), in addition to, a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.
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