William Gilbert Robey

William G. Robey (Bill, Pop-Pop) 80, of Apollo Beach, passed away on January 15, 2018. He was born in Danville, VA, and served in the Air Force and Naval Reserves. Bill met and married his wife Lynette, while in the Air Force and stationed in Christchurch New Zealand, working on Operation Deep Freeze, delivering supplies to the scientific expedition at the South Pole, and brought her to the States after they were married. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force and Naval Reserves and proceeded to spend 30+ years working for Sun Oil Company, retiring in 1992. He moved the family numerous times as his career progressed with Sun Oil, living in several cities within Virginia (Norfolk and Richmond), Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre and West Chester) and Florida (Jacksonville and Brandon). After moving back to Florida, they lived in Tampa and Jupiter, and then settled in Apollo Beach to be closer to children and grandchildren.

Bill was an historical member of the Masons and Shriners and was an avid fisherman and golfer, spending many a Saturday and Sunday out on the boat fishing or golfing. There were many family boat outings, fishing and crabbing over the years, and many fun-filled weekends at Long Beach Island, NJ, at the marina.

There were many family vacations over the years to various locations and typically included trips with his mother Eunice, his sister Ruth’s family or family friends, and gatherings typically included a sing-along session with Bill playing the ukulele.

Bill was a master craftsman in woodworking and enjoyed making things for the family. He made many beautiful family keepsakes such as beautiful Amish inlaid baby cribs, rocking horses, horse scooters, easels, stilts, wooden trucks, trains and pull-toys, baseball holders, airplane shelves, bedroom furniture, cabinets, bookshelves, stools and more.

Bill was a big softy when it came to his six grandchildren. He rarely told them ‘no’ and loved spending time with all of them, playing games, taking them swimming and picnicking at Jupiter Inlet, watching them swim in the pool, and watching them play on their team sports. He taught each of them to fish, in the pond at their condo in Jupiter, and was often seen palming them a couple dollars so they had ‘pocket change’.

He is predeceased by his parents, William Watson Robey and Eunice Wood, and his grandson, Joseph Giunta. He is survived by his wife, Lynette Robey, his three children, Kim Plant, Sherry Giunta (Johnny Giunta) and William E. Robey, his five grandchildren, Alyssa and Cody Hernandez, Jacob Giunta, and Jamie and Jeffrey Robey, his sister Ruth Watts and many extended family members.