Colonel Robinson died at Columbus Hospice on November 5, 2018, at age 93. He was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania to Marie Emma Herdt Robinson and Percy M. Robinson. He entered the service in 1944. During a period of 32 years he served in Europe, Korea, Vietnam and Japan, as well as with occupation troops in Italy. He also served in various Army posts in the United States. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, The Purple Heart Medal plus a number of other decorations and service medals. His duties included the normal command and staff assignments in his long career. He was married to the former Elizabeth Jane Swarm of Lament, PA, deceased; Ondina Bensi of Trieste, Italy, deceased and Bettie K. Robinson, formally of Pittsburgh, PA.
He attended Penn State University and graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in 1958. After retirement in 1976, he earned a master’s degree from Columbus College, now Columbus State University. He was active in several retirement organizations. He served two terms as President of the Sojourners Chapter Number Eight, two terms as Secretary of the Chattahoochee Valley Retired Officers Association as well as Vice President and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus and the E. Moyer Executive Club.
He is survived by his wife Bettie, two daughters: Saundra Jane Powell (Paul) of Flemington, PA and Sue R. Henry (Philip) of Atlanta and one brother, Wilbur Robinson of Pittsburgh. His grandchildren are Elissa Henry Lorenzen, Alexander Henry, Brian Powell and Kelley Lohr. He also had five great-grandchildren: Isabel, Eleanor and Lilly Lorenzen and Benson Powell and Gabrielle Martin.
Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to your favorite charity in memory of Colonel Robert H. Robinson. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, First Avenue in Columbus on Friday November 16th at 11:00am. Interment with full Masonic and Military Honors will held at Fort Benning at 1:30pm.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Robinson family.