Robert Gilmer
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Robert Gilmer, 83, entered heavenly rest on October 8th, 2021, thus ending the journey of a person with an incredible lifelong love of learning. Robert had an intense curiosity, a desire to learn, know, and share his knowledge. He had a broad range of interests; some in particular were the Bible, geography, health, medicine, language, mathematics, the natural world, and words. He was blessed with a good mind and an exceptional memory. At age 4 he could draw the map of the United States, including all state names and capitals. He was a spelling bee champion, and covaledictorian of his 1955 high school senior class. He received a BS in Math and Science Education from Mississippi State in 1958, and a Ph.D. from LSU in 1961.
Robert grew up on a cotton/dairy farm in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, the son of Buck and Marie Gilmer. He was devoted to his wife Rachel (deceased, 2016), whom he met in 1962 at the Midvale Baptist Church while working under a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Robert and Rachel were married in August of 1963, and five days later they moved to Tallahassee.
Robert began his personal relationship with Jesus Christ when he accepted Him as his Savior at age 11. He was his Lord, and Robert was dedicated to His service. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church where he and Rachel began working in children's ministry in 1964 and taught Sunday School over the ensuing 5 decades.
Robert had a successful professional career as an FSU faculty member in mathematics. He was promoted from assistant to associate professor in 1965, and to full professor in 1968. He was a Sloan Fellow (Tubingen, Germany) in 1967, and a Fulbright Fellow (Melbourne, Australia) in 1974. In 1981 he was named that year's Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor, which is the highest honor the Florida State faculty bestows upon one of its own. In 2013 he was named a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. He authored or coauthored more than 170 research papers, published three books, and served as a major professor for thirteen doctoral students.
Robert was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Rachel Gilmer, and parents Robert "Buck" and Marie Gilmer. He is survived by his sons David (Brooke; Killen, AL) and Steve (Karen; Winter Park, FL.); his sister Sara Foster (Starkville, MS), four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee at 10:30 am on Friday, October 22, 2021. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Florida Baptist Children's Homes, or to Samaritan's Purse.