Herbert Mumford,

Herbert Windsor Mumford, Jr., age 101, died Friday, January 30, 2009 from pneumonia, in Little Rock, AR. He was born in Urbana, IL, November 17, 1907, the fourth of five children of Lena Bell Crosby and her husband, Herbert W. Mumford, former professor and Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois. Herbert grew up in the now historic Mumford House on the University of Illinois campus. Herb graduated from University of Illinois College of Agriculture in 1929 with majors in statistics, marketing, and agricultural economics. He earned his MS degree in 1930, and earned his PhD form Cornell in 1934. Herbert married the love of his life, Mildred Aliza Goold, also a graduate of University of Illinois, December 27, 1932 in Fairbury, Illinois and they became the parents of four children: Mrs. Genevieve E. Griffith (Lycurgus "Skip"), Mrs. Marilyn F. Bourdeaux (Robert), Mrs. Jeannette L. Straub (Karl) and Herbert W. Mumford, III (Victoria).
His descendants include 15 adoring grandchildren, Matthew Griffith, Joanna Griffith Trainor, Paul Griffith, Jeannine Bourdeaux, Daniel Bourdeaux, Antoine (Tony) Bourdeaux, Madeline Bourdeaux Haniph, Karl J. Straub, Jennifer L. Straub Moore, Jason F. Straub, Christine Mumford Abuchon, Jeffery Mumford, Iratxe Mumford, Dan Mumford and Herbert W. Mumford, IV; 18 great-grandchildren, Ethan Griffith, Darren Griffith, Jessica Griffith, Sara Griffith, Marika Bourdeaux, Jason Bourdeaux, Adam Bourdeaux, Bobby Bourdeaux, Billy Bourdeaux, Johnny Bourdeaux, Amanda Bourdeaux, Sawyer Bourdeaux, Amelia Bourdeaux, Aaron Bourdeaux, Laurie Ellen Moore, Alison E. Moore, Jessica Abuchon and Ellen Mumford.
Herbert taught at New York State College, worked for U.S. Farm Credit, and worked for the USDA for 32 years including 2 years as an Agricultural Attache' in the American Embassy in Ecuador and then serving as an International Sugar Expert in the Sugar and Tropical Products Division for the USDA. Herbert W. Mumford, Jr., published over 45 publications on agricultural and agricultural economics. Herb also ran his own dairy farm in Montgomery County.
After retirement, Herbert served his community through his church, and served the underprivileged. As a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Maryland, Herb helped start and become a Director of a 25 member congregations, interdenominational volunteer service organization called "Gaithersburg Help". This organization has been serving the public now for 39 years meeting the emergency needs of nearly 4, 000 persons a year.
Since the death of his wife in 2004, Herbert moved from Maryland to live with his daughter, Jeannette, and her husband Karl David Straub, in little Rock, Arkansas. The family wishes to express deep appreciation to those who have shown kindness and consideration to him in his later years. Herb was an upright, kind, and gentle man who leaves a legacy of wisdom and wholesome goodness to his family and friends. We will miss him greatly.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 11:00a.m. at Little Rock's First Baptist Church, 62 Pleasant Valley Dr., Little Rock. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 in the Chapel. Burial will be at Norbeck Memorial Park, Kensington, Maryland. Donations to the University of Illinois Foundation, with stated designation for the H.W. Mumford, Jr., Scholarship fund would be gratefully received and may be sent to University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 West Green Street, MC-386, Urbana, IL 61801.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200, 8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR., (NW corner of I-630 and Barrow Rd.) Visit Mr. Mumford's online guestbook at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.