Edwin Thomas Robison

Ed was born to Edwin Ray Robison and Ida Mae Bonds on January 2, 1923, in Boonville, MO. At the age of 3 months, he moved with his parents to Roseville, CA where his father was employed as an engineer on the Central Pacific Railway. He spent his early years in Roseville visiting aunts and uncles, playing with cousins, riding his bike from Roseville to Citrus Heights to visit grandparents, and learning to play the violin. Later, he moved with his mother to Big Oak Flat, near Groveland, CA. It was in Groveland that Ed spent his teenage and early adult years, developing friendships and memories that he would cherish for the rest of his life. Like most young men living in the mountains during the Depression era, Ed grew up learning to manage with a scarcity of food and supplies. Despite the hardships, he enjoyed the strength of community shared by neighbors in that small mountain town. He learned responsibility, self-reliance, perseverance, and the critical value of moral character. Honesty was his core. He would later recount his memories of hunting, fishing and hiking in the mountains with buddies with great fondness. There were challenges in daily life at that time, challenges that we rarely experience today. For instance, attending High School in Sonora required having one of the students drive a school bus daily from Groveland to Sonora and back home again. The bus driver was the student who made it to the garage first that day. The trip was made down Old Priest Grade, a narrow, brutally steep 20% slope that was originally an Indian path, then a wagon route. It is still considered one of the most dangerous roads in California. These young people were the bedrock of the Greatest Generation and their characters and talents were honed largely out of necessity and commitment to persevere through any hardship. Following graduation, at the suggestion of his best friend, George Vallem, the two attended Cal Poly Welders Training Program. World War II had started and, in 1942, he was inducted into the Army Air Corp. Ed served in the Asiatic Pacific Ryukyus Air Offensive, spending time in Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He was awarded the WW2 Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Medal for Good Conduct.

Ed was discharged as a Sergeant in 1946, and returned home to Groveland where he began work on the Hetch Hetchy Project. As a welder, he fabricated the massive steel turbines that provided millions of gallons of water daily to San Francisco and the Bay Area. During this period, Ed spent his weekends in Groveland, CA.

In Groveland there was a saloon, the Iron Door. In 1949, the saloon was a local meeting place for Saturday night dances. One Saturday night Ed and his friends were there when the band began playing the song, “Clancy Lowered the Boom.” At that moment, Ed noticed an attractive young woman across the room and asked her to dance. Ed would later recall, “We danced all night long. The next morning I drove to her house to see her again to confirm that she was as beautiful as I had remembered.” Several months later, on October 21, 1950, Edwin Thomas Robison married Betty Bernice Schaffner . They settled into their own home in Modesto, CA in April, 1951, and lived in that home for the rest of their lives.

Together, Betty and Ed built a family. They raised three children and shared their home with parents and later grandchildren. They camped in Cherry Valley and fished for striped bass in the San Joaquin River Delta. They traveled to Boston and Nantucket, MA., to Saint Louis, MO, and down the Mississippi on a riverboat. They maintained close ties with Ed’s childhood friends, George and Della Vallem and Marvin and Doris Blank, never living more than a few miles apart from one another. Over the years they developed deep friendships with their neighbors, including Ed and Joann Major.

Ed worked for Velvet Ice Cream Company for 34 years, first as a delivery driver, then as partial owner with Marvin Blank. After selling the ice cream company in 1981, Ed worked part time as a conveyor fabricator for the 7Up Company in Modesto. Ed retired in 1996.

Years later, after the death of Betty, Ed spent time with his daughter Gloria, traveling with family to St. Louis, MO; Bronxville, NY; Naples, Fl; Wilson, AR; and Memphis, TN where he was always ready for a marathon Dominos game with his good friend, Steve Wilson, often lasting days. Back in Modesto, Ed lived with his grandson Colby. Colby and Ed were inseparable and developed an enormous bond, based on mutual respect and an enduring love.

Ed’s Life has been a steadfast and constant blessing to those who knew him. He was the true definition of a gentle man. To his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren he was a true and shining star. He never wavered in his principled commitment to honesty, love, family, friendship and hard work. Ed often reflected on his life, remembering all the challenges as opportunities, and all of his experiences, loves and friendships as his life’s greatest blessings. We, who have been so fortunate to share in his life, benefit from his guidance and feel the warmth of his smile, and thank God for the gift and enduring treasure that was Edwin Thomas Robison.

Edwin was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Bernice Robison; his mother, Ida Mae Bonds, father, Edwin Ray Robison and stepson Steven Arthur Beck.

Edwin is survived by his daughter, Gloria S. Gelberman (Richard); son Thomas Ray Robison (Christine); grandsons Colby Thomas Robison (Tina) and Ryan David Gelberman; granddaughters Amanda Dawn Rapp (Todd), Courtney Gelberman (Louis Chang), and Gina Marie Stallings. In addition, Ed is survived by seven great grandchildren.

There will be a private viewing and service for Edwin on December 16, 2020. Due to the risk associated with having a gathering of people during this time, a celebration of life ceremony will be postponed until further notice.