Robert Iiams

KINGS MOUNTAIN-ROBERT "BOB" IIAMS
Robert "Bob" Leland Iiams, 72, passed away unexpectedly, Friday, November 28th in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Robert was born in Crestline, Ohio and resided in Ohio, California, Florida, and North Carolina throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Arlene; two daughters, Kimberly "Kim" Woosley and Heather Iiams (Jimmy Lane); two sons, Robert "Rob" (Jackie) Iiams and Rodney "Rod" (Ruth Ann) Iiams; and two stepdaughters, Melissa (Dave) Deschenes and Lisa Arthur (Darin Winebarger). Robert has twenty-one grandchildren; Megean, Pleas, Sarah, Kimmy, Amber, Caleb, Levi, Jerry, Rachel, Katie, Becky, Zach, Rodney, Nicole, Jeremy, Danielle, Sarah, Dalen, Lex, Shayne, and Brooke; and he has twenty-seven great-grandchildren. Robert was predeceased by his first wife, Ilene; father, Russell; brother, Richard; grandson, Caleb Woosley; and great-grandson, Rodney Jr.
Robert attended Parma Senior High School near Cleveland, Ohio and won an art scholarship. Rather than attending college, he decided that marriage and a family was the path for him. He and Ilene Young married in 1961 in Galion, Ohio and started their growing family soon after. Robert had a varied career and often worked several jobs at a time to provide for his young family. His professions include managing Clancy's Hamburgers, Borden Burger, and McDonald's; cake mix production at a Pillsbury Plant; manufacturing and delivering amusement trailers for Otterbacher Trailers; a delivery driver for a potato chip company; manufacturing heavy equipment as a certified master welder at the Marion Power Shovel; and floor covering installation in Ohio, California, and Florida which was his main livelihood getting his start in that field at the Galion Carpet & Linoleum store. He also owned a heat transfer business creating items for car shows and flea markets as a hobby.
Robert was a member of Truth Baptist Church in West Salem, Ohio where he re-dedicated his life to Christ in a baptism ceremony and was also the Awana leader where he always had a pocket full of candy for the children. Later, he became a member of Caesarea Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio. After relocating to North Carolina, he attended the First Baptist Church of Kings Mountain.
Robert could do anything he set his mind to doing as he was a very creative and artistic individual. He built homes and remodeled several other homes over the years. He knew how to play the accordion and mountain dulcimer. He loved attending car shows, restoring cars, watching NASCAR racing, and even participating in drag races upon occasion which included competing at the Sunshine Drag Strip in Clearwater, Florida. On his 70th birthday, he enjoyed The Richard Petty Driving Experience by driving a real NASCAR race car. He shared his passion for loud and fast cars with his sons. He also followed a variety of sports including football, baseball, and basketball. Family adventures involved camping, boating including water-skiing, bowling, and visiting theme parks. At other times, "Family Night" was often at the Tampa Armory watching live wrestling matches or watching races at the Sunshine Speedway in Clearwater. His favorite travel destination was the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee area where he and Arlene (Gunter) Arthur wed in 2013. He cared for and loved the many dogs, his adoring buddies, who entered his life over the years. He will be remembered for his devilish grin and how he would playfully harass just about everyone. When asked what he was doing or what he was up to, he would often reply with, "As little as possible and getting away with it!" In reality, he was a hard-worker who always provided for his family even through some tough economic times. Robert is greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.
His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org). There will be a gathering for family and friends at the home Robert and Arlene shared in Kings Mountain on Friday, December 5th, from 6pm to 9pm. Clay-Barnette Funeral Home of Kings Mountain has been entrusted with the arrangements.