Robert Dennis

Robert Boyce Dennis went home to be with His Lord and Savior on Sunday November 10, 2019. His health had been failing over the past months and he passed away peacefully at home while sleeping in his favorite chair. Dad was born March 13, 1926 in Paradise, Kentucky and passed away on November 10, 2019 in Vista, CA. He was 93.

He is predeceased by his wife, Vivian (2000); his son, KR(2013); his 9 siblings; and 1 great grandchild (Grant). He is survived by his 5 children: Roberta Golike (Seattle), Bruce (Brazil), Eric (Vista), John (Santa Clarita), and Rene England (Magnolia, TX).

Dad was drafted during WW2 along with his brothers, and served in the Army Air Corps. And, although he started out his training operating and repairing radios, he ended up spending most of his time in the service in the Philippines (1944-1945) after his C/O interrupted his class in training two weeks before graduation and said the Army needed “Some of the Best”.

After his military service he worked in the construction field for over 70 years, most of which he spent in California as a licensed general contractor after moving to Vista in 1959. There are many projects all over Southern California that were touched by his talents, from patio covers to single family homes to commercial structures here and there.

He was known as a great husband, brother, father, uncle, Bob, he grew up being called Boyce (still to those from the Midwest), “Uncle Boyce”, “Boycee”, grandpa, great grandpa (and because he liked to wear his white construction clothes most of the time, he was called “Great White Grandpa” by some or “Whitey”).

Dad served in his church in many forms and roles including usher, deacon, choir member, Sunday school teacher, and building repairman. He also helped build several church buildings throughout his lifetime. Dad loved singing the hymns, had a love for God, a love for His church, had a love for missions, and enjoyed his private times of prayer evidenced by list after list of people to pray for, and was diligent in his daily Scripture reading evidenced by the check marks next to the daily reading schedules that allowed one to read through the Bible in a year. In recent years, he also had a growing hunger for heaven.

Dad and Mom; Vivian, were hospitable to many and his ministry of hospitality was sizable over the years. He even had youth groups stay in his home with one that had 38 staying overnight in his house at one time (he said, “these kids were sleeping even on the kitchen floor, like cord wood”). Many friends and traveling missionaries would stay in that large master bedroom upstairs. The super large 36” pizzas were a favorite to many that came by. You would never go hungry in his house. .

Most important of all, we are assured that Robert Boyce Dennis is in heaven today! Not because he was a good man. He knew he wasn’t good enough on his own merits to get to heaven (the Bible says that no one is good enough and that we are all sinners facing great judgment - Romans 3:23). Dad believed by faith; that God punishes sin, that the wages of sin is death; however, Jesus paid that penalty in full on the cross and in Dad’s place. Dad believed Romans 6:23 that “the free gift of God is eternal life”, and he accepted that gift.

Dad would also share that same “gospel” or “good news” message with many that is found in Romans 10:9-10 “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in righteousness”.

Dad is in heaven today only because of the saving work of Jesus. That is truly good news! From Paradise Kentucky to “Paradise”.

The Dennis family has scheduled a memorial service for Dad on Saturday, December 7 at 2pm at Calvary Baptist Church in Oceanside, Ca. The address is 3320 Mission Ave. Suite H, in Oceanside CA. We would love to have you join us.