Russell Hugh Robbins

The memorial service for Dr. Russell Robbins, age 70 will be 2 PM today at First United Methodist Church, Jackson, TN with Dr. Paul Clayton and Rev. Ted Leach officiating. The family will receive friends after the service in Clayton Hall at the church.

Dr. Robbins passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital after a brief illness. He was born September 25, 1939, in Jackson, TN to the late Russell and Ethel Davis Robbins. Dr. Robbins graduated from Jackson High School (TN) in 1957; Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in 1961 with honors and a major in art; and UT College of Medicine in December, 1964. He served his internship in Roanoke, VA, and completed his residency at the UT Center for Health Sciences. He spent two years as a physician in the United States Air Force, including one year in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He was a doctor of internal medicine at The Jackson Clinic for 39 years and a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church.

He was an avid fisherman in both the United States and several Central American countries, as most people know. Part of the joy of fishing was being outside where he felt close to God. He had a true servant's heart which blessed his family, colleagues, and countless others. Nothing gave him greater delight than enjoying his family. He was the epitome of a Christian gentleman and a man of integrity and principle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister. Anne Robbins Meyer.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Peggy Hammond Robbins of Jackson, TN; one daughter, Melissa Robbins Moore (Mike) of Jackson, TN; two sons, Russell Hugh Robbins, Jr. (Lori) of Midway, KY, and Paul Frederick Robbins (Jaime) of Bloomington, IN; and five grandchildren, Joey Moore, Brynnan Robbins, Amelia Moore, Sophie Moore, and Eric Robbins.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to First United Methodist Church, 200 S. Church St., Jackson, TN 38301; RIFA, 225 N. Highland Avenue, Jackson, TN 38305; or Youthtown of TN, 3641 Youth Town Rd., Pinson, TN 38366.