Obituary

Robert Earl Sims, passed away in his sleep March 7, 2022 at age 74 at his home in Austin,Texas. Bob was born in Montgomery, Alabama, October 9, 1947 to parents James Merideth Sims and Carrie Chandler Sims Craft. In Montgomery, Bob graduated from Robert E Lee High School in 1966 where he played football. He continued his love of learning at Auburn University, earning a BA in English with a minor in History in 1970. While at Auburn, he served as cheerleader, a Senator in student government, assistant editor of Plainsman newspaper, and member of Lamda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was commissioned in the US Army ROTC and graduated as First Lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery. June 6, 1970 he married the love of his life, Carol Eidschun. After the military, Bob and Carol served in student campus ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville before moving to Austin in 1972. As campus ministry director at the University of Texas, Bob led a thriving ministry for students to learn about Jesus and what it means to know Him and follow Him. During his time there he impacted hundreds of students and adults over a 12-year period. In 1980, he along with 17 others began Austin Ridge Bible Church (originally Westlake Bible Church). After college ministry he transitioned to a Texas state-wide political campaign, then the financial industry as a financial consultant, where Bob served clients for 20 years. He then transitioned back to ministry and worked in Prison Fellowship for four years. In retirement, he helped his son and wife build a retail tea company, called the Tea Embassy. Bob could be found sharing his life and telling stories over a cup of tea in their tea shop in downtown Austin. He welcomed his first grandchild in 2008 and soon became known as grandpa "BobBob." In 2013 he carried on his love for tea and planted a tea farm in Andalusia, Alabama with dreams of producing American tea in his home state while continuing life as a grandfather to his many grandchildren in Austin. BobBob loved his family and friends deeply and the passion of his heart was expanding the kingdom of God. Husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend of Jesus, patriot, visionary, evangelist, dreamer, warrior, adventurer, outdoorsman, hunter, philosopher, lifelong learner, reader, storyteller, sports fan, full of laughter and smiles. Remembered most for showing God's grace to everyone he met. Survived by wife Carol Eidschun Sims, sons Ryan married to Lisa Henberger, Jonathan married to Amy Broline, Benjamin married to Corina Lucas, brother Jim married to Linda in Tennessee, and ten grandchildren: Preston, Sebastian, Abigail, Claire, Audrey, Hallie, Julia, Chloe, Ava and Judah. Memorial Service for Robert will be held 10:00 AM, March 22, 2022 at Austin Ridge Bible Church located at 9300 FM 2244 Road, Austin, TX 78733, in the WC Building at the corner of Bee Caves and Cuernavaca Dr. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ethnos360.org in support of his nephew Stuart Sims and family and their call to expand the kingdom of God in Papua New Guinea as a helicopter pilot. After following the link, https://ethnos360.org/give, search for "Stuart Sims" in the Give to a Missionary search box.