Dr. Robert Allen Carroll

YORK- Dr. Robert Allen Carroll, 68, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, mentor and Christian, went to be with his Lord, Saturday, September 22, 2012, at his residence, surrounded by his family and friends. He was the husband of Hope (Stevens) Carroll. The couple planned to celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary November 22. A celebration of life service will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at Messiah United Methodist Church, 1300 North Beaver St., York, with his pastor, the Reverend W. Michael Langford officiating. A viewing will be from 2-4 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd., York is in charge of arrangements. Born January 31, 1944, in El Dorado, AR, he was a son of the late Robert L. and Vivian P. (Allen) Carroll. Dr. Carroll taught public relations and journalism for 25 years at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; eight years at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN, where he was assistant chair of the communications department; two summers at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu and was in his tenth year as a professor of public relations at York College. He earned accreditation as a public relations professional (APR) from the international Public Relations Society of America. He began his professional career as a journalist at the El Dorado, AR, newspaper when he was still in high school. A 1962 graduate of El Dorado High School, he attended Southern State in Magnolia, AR, before moving to Monroe, LA, and enrolling at what was then Northeast Louisiana State College, now the University of Louisiana-Monroe and earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He earned his master’s at Texas A&M-Commerce, and completed doctoral studies at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Dr. Carroll was a member of Messiah United Methodist Church where he was active in several committees. He was a former president of Public Relations Association of Louisiana, former president of West Monroe Rotary International Chapter and a chapter advisor for three Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapters. As a skilled professor, he challenged and guided a great number of students who have entered the field of public relations. Along with his wife, Hope, Dr. Carroll is survived by one daughter, Jennifer Lynn Carroll of W. Monroe, LA; one son, Robert Bradley Carroll and his wife, Dawn of Atlanta, GA; one grandson, Robert Harris Carroll; two brothers, James C. Carroll and William R. Carroll, both of Longview, TX; one sister, Mary Ann Williams of Camden, AR; one niece; several nephews; and many cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Dr., Suite 206, N. Hollywood, CA 91607 or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at www.themmrf.org or Operation One Voice at www.operationonevoice.org