Charles Howard Robbins

Charles Howard Robbins of McLean, Virginia passed away peacefully with family in McLean, Virginia on November 7,2023. Charles “Robby” was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Carle and Elizabeth Robbins on September 19, 1930 and attended Stratford High School in Stratford, CT. A descendant of President James Garfield, Charles married Ellen etna Robbins, on September 22, 1951, he also graduated from the University of Maryland with master’s degree in business. Charles was a decorated and proud veteran of the Korean war (Battle of Inchon) and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. His Army military career encompassed his first career as a decorated officer, and Charles was awarded the bronze star and numerous service awards and ribbons for his infantry service and service in the medical service corp. Charles continued his career after his military retirement and in 1976 founded PHP Healthcare Corporation, with his son Charles B. Robbins, SR., which grew to a 400-million-dollar NYSE publicly traded health care service company. Charles was a pioneer in healthcare delivery, opening two of the first private urgent care centers in the US in Northern Virginia (PrimeCare). The community based outpatient clinics model developed by Charles enveloped into health care delivery platforms throughout the us and abroad including the department of defense (Primus/NavCare clinics), Native American populations, several fortune 500 company employee and family clinics, state veteran’s facilities, clinic platforms systems for Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Catholic Health System, as well as mental health facilities and state of the art surgery centers. Mr. Robbins vision and pioneering of turnkey clinic service platforms and facilities delivered over 50 million outpatient visits to active-duty military, families, retirees as well as Native Americans and private sector families. Mr. Robbins also provided health services for the state of Texas, Maryland, Arkansas, and Mississippi Corrections System as well as 100,000 Cuban Muriel Boatlift Refugees in 1976 for the INS. In 1997, embarking on his third career, Mr. Robbins and son Charles, SR., opened CR Associates in Newington, VA utilizing the same pioneered concepts to clients worldwide. This included opening the first Department of Veteran Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinics in the country, developing a the largest privately operated contracted system of dedicated clinics serving over 55,000 valued veterans. Mr. Robbins and son retired in 2021. He was awarded the Presidential Golden Hammer Award along with other numerous awards for pioneering health care delivery. Charles is preceded in death by his brother, Carle Robbins and daughter Caroline Robbins. Charles is survived by his wife, Ellen Robbins, sons, Brent Lilly (Nancy), Charles B. Robbins, SR. (Rose), daughter, Leigh Robbins (Ken), grandchildren Carina Marsala (Joseph), Charles B Robbins JR. (Manuella), Jessica Robbins-Powell (Frederick), and great grandchildren, Johnny Lepore III, Bailey Baldwin-Powell, Brooks Baldwin-Powell, Beau Powell, and Brynn Powell. Charles had an extensive interest in politics, both local and national. He loved reading, history, watching his favorite Washington Redskins/Commanders and Senators/Nationals, as well as spending time with his family. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the loving caregivers, Dr. Scott Whittaker MD, and the many people that have touched our lives in work and lifetime friendships. Visitation followed by a memorial service and reception will be at 1 pm, Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Memorial Park, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042