Dr. Charles D. Robinson

Dr. Charles D. Robinson of Abilene died Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the age of 82. Charles was born July 16, 1932 in Dallas. His parents were Marguriete Gentry Robinson and Samuel Milton Robinson. He was reared in Ada, Oklahoma and graduated from Ada High School in 1950. After service in the U.S. Army with a stint in Korea and employment with the home office of an insurance company in Oklahoma City, Charles enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in 1954. It was also in 1954 that he married his sweetheart, Clydene Rush, whom he met at Trinity Baptist Church while he was working in Oklahoma City.

Following graduation from Hardin-Simmons in 1956, Charles was appointed an Instructor in Mathematics at HSU, a position he held until 1959, at which time he and Clydene moved to Austin so Charles could continue his education at the graduate level. He received the M.A. degree in 1961 and the Ph.D. degree in mathematics in 1964 from The University of Texas at Austin. In 1982, he was awarded a second masters degree, this time from St. John’s College (the “Great Books College”) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Charles held faculty positions in mathematics at Arizona State University and the University of Mississippi before returning to HSU in 1968 to head the Department of Mathematics. After 30 years of service in mathematics and in a number of administrative positions, he retired from HSU in 1995.

He was active in Texas mathematics, having served as President of the Texas Association of Academic Administrators in the Mathematical Sciences and as Secretary/Treasurer for six years of the Texas Section of the Mathematical Association of America. He also was a consultant to the National Science Foundation, reviewing proposals for mathematics and science programs at the secondary and college levels.

Clydene, his loving wife and best friend for 51 years, died January 29, 2006. His parents also preceded him in death. He is survived by friends and former colleagues at HSU, and by Kathy Cummings of Ridgecrest, California – a 1976 mathematics graduate of HSU – who has been a faithful source of encouragement since Clydene’s death.

Arrangements are under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory Street. Viewing will be at the funeral home on Friday, December 12, 2014 from 6pm to 8pm. A graveside service will be held at 10am Saturday, December 13, 2014 at the Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery, 5701 Hwy 277 South.

Memorials may be made to Hardin-Simmons University, P.O. Box 16100, Abilene, TX 79698-6100 or to the donor’s charity of choice.