CICERO, N.Y. –– Robert E. Carns Jr., 64, former president of UM Men of North Central New York Annual Conference, died April 12.

Carns was a life member of UM Men, an EMS member and a strong supporter of the national effort to provide Strength for Service to God and County books to members of the military.

A native of Newport, Pa., he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Penn State University. He retired in 2003 from the N.Y. State Department of Transportation after 33 years as a civil engineer.

An active member of Cicero UMC, he was fondly called ‘Mr. Bob” by children in his pre-K Sunday school class.

He was a certified lay speaker, past administrative board chair and a member of the Upper New York Annual Conference.

He and Jeff Morey established a kiosk for the United Methodist Church at the Carousel Mall in Syracuse.

Surviving are his wife of 37 years, Pastor Barbara James Carns; his siblings, Barbara (Jim) Brennan of Philadelphia, Pa., Elizabeth (Allen) Butler of Shermansdale, Pa., Mary Ann Carns of Newport, Pa,, Debra (Ron) Kuhn of Carlisle, Pa., Edward Carns of Newport, Pa., Richard (Kendra VanHorn) Carns of Saugus, Calif., and David (Gladys) Carns of Newport, Pa.