Charles Junior Robertson

Charles Junior Robertson, 96, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 4, 2023 at Brookdale Senior Living in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was born on March 28, 1927 to Charles Willis Robertson and Martha Emma (Sneed) Robertson, at their home in the rural farming community known as Cracker’s Neck in Hamilton County, Illinois. He was the youngest of four brothers.

He attended a rural community school called Reid School through the eighth grade, before attending McLeansboro Township High School, where he made top grades and graduated in May of 1945. He had received his draft notice while he was still a senior, but due to his good grades, he was allowed to graduate. Shortly after graduation, on June 7th, he reported to Camp Robinson, Arkansas to begin basic training in the United States Army. Upon completing basic training he married Norma June Irvin, whom he had dated in high school, in the chapel of Asbury Methodist Church, adjacent to Camp Robinson on August 25, 1945.

On November 11, 1945 Charles disembarked a troop ship at LaHarve, France. From there, he traveled to Germany where he served as a Quartermaster in a cold storage plant in Frankfurt, Germany for the remainder of his service, when he was honorably discharged. Upon returning to the States, he went to work for a year in his father’s business, operating a steam powered sawmill, and operating a threshing machine. In 1947 he went to work for Flint Rigging, an oilfield maintenance company where he helped set pumping units, and dug trenches by hand to lay pipeline all over Southern Illinois. In 1953, he was hired by Shell Oil Company as a lease operator, a position he held for over 32 years.

During his 17 year marriage to Norma June Irvin they had two sons, Bradley Joel Robertson, born 1951, and Kevin Dale Robertson, born 1952. Charles and June divorced in 1962.

On September 17, 1963, Charles married Wanda Mariline Smith in the home of Rev. Ray Wilkey, in Belle Rive, Illinois. They had two children, Emily Carol, born in 1964, and Eric Lee, born in 1967.

After working in the oilfields, in the Benton, Centralia, Gobbler’s Knob, and Hoodville Southern Illinois areas, Charles and family were transferred to the Ratliffe City, Oklahoma offices of Shell Oil Company. Charles and family resided in Davis, Oklahoma, first in a rental property, then bought a house in 1983. They remained there to his retirement, and for many years after.

Following his retirement in April of 1985, he worked briefly for Arbuckle Wilderness, a drive through animal safari driving a feed truck. After a fight with an exotic deer, which ended in a draw, he went to work at the First Baptist Church in Davis as the custodian. He held that that position for about 13 years, working alongside Wanda, who for many years was the church secretary. They both retired the same day. Never one to be idle, Charles went to work at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office in 1999, helping move inmates to and from the visitation room. During this time, he also worked as a handyman at Bailey’s Glass in Sulphur Oklahoma.

Shortly after Wanda’s death in 2010, Charles sold his house in Davis and moved in with his son Eric, in McLoud, Oklahoma, where he resided until he made the decision to move into Brookdale Assisted Living on May 28, 2015, where he lived until his passing.

As a 10 year old boy, while kneeling by the corn crib, Charles trusted Jesus as his Savior. He lived the remainder of his life as a faithful and humble father, husband, friend and Christian man. He was ready to give an answer and testimony to any and all, and was always willing to lend a hand to help his friends, neighbors and a few complete strangers.

In addition to his parents and his wife Wanda, Charles is preceded in death by his son Kevin in 2016. He was also preceded by his three older brothers, Glenn, Howard, and Harold, as well as his mother and father-in-law, Frank and Dorothy Miller.

He is survived by his son Bradley of Peoria, AZ, daughter Emily Gollaher of Hendricks, MN, son Eric of Shawnee, OK, daughter–in-law Cathy Hall of Boise, ID, sister-in-law Phyliss Ratliff and her husband Bill Schnettgoechke of Wentzville, MO, and sister-in-law Juanita Robertson of McLeansboro, IL. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, four nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Graveside services, with military honors will be held at Greenhill Cemetery, Davis, OK on September 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., Brother Rick McQueen of Shawnee Baptist Church, where Charles was a charter member, officiating. Services are entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfh.com for the Robertson family.