Robert D. Newton Jr.

Robert D. Newton Jr. died on Feb. 4, 2020 from complications of pneumonia at Putnam County Hospital.

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, with calling hours beginning at 2 p.m. and after the service.

Bob was born on Jan. 3, 1928 in Camden, Ark. and attended school in Memphis, Tenn. After serving in Japan for 18 months in the occupation army, he attended Yale University on the G.I. Bill and was graduated in 1950. He finished his Master of Divinity degree with magna cum laude honors at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from Columbia University.

Bob was hired by DePauw in 1956 and taught for 52 years until 2008. During that time he spearheaded the rewrite of the faculty bylaws, and was active in teaching writing across the curriculum to his faculty colleagues in support of the “W” requirement. He served on many faculty committees (notably the committee on faculty and the committee on administration) and was chair of his department for 18 years.

He was active in the AAUP. Bob was awarded the $10,000 Tucker Prize in 1989 as an Outstanding Faculty Member, and was the inaugural holder of the Blair and Martha Rieth Professsorship of Applied Ethics from 1992 to 2008.

Bob was an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and served as a supply pastor at many surrounding UM churches. He served at the state level on the UM Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and authored several articles and curriculum for the church.

Survivors are his wife, Ann K. Newton; daughter, Beth Newton Watson and husband Ross; and son, Christopher Newton and wife Beth Ann.