Cecil was born in Pecos, Texas on December 14, 1926 to Richard Lee and Myrtie Adelia (McAdoo) Robinson, but Jal, New Mexico was his home growing up. Cecil had two brothers and five sisters. He played football in high school and marched in the band during half time. He also worked at a dairy, getting up at five in the morning and milking cows before school. He graduated from Jal High School in May, 1944. Upon graduation, Cecil immediately joined the Navy. He wanted to follow his older brother into the Marines, but the Marines wouldn’t take him due to his age, 17. Norma Lee Awalt, his high school sweetheart, joined him in California and they were married on May 18, 1945. His ship was in route to the Philippines when the war with Japan was suddenly over, after the bombing of Hiroshima. He was discharged from the Navy on April 2, 1946.
Cecil returned to Jal and he and Norma moved to Fort Stockton, and then to McCamey, where he worked for William Cameron Lumber Company as a bookkeeper. They moved to Crane, Texas in 1950, where Cecil became manager of Russell Thomas Lumber Company. They were blessed with their daughter, Mona Claire, on February 27, 1951. She was their pride and joy. Later, Russell Thomas Lumber Company ventured into oilfield service, renaming the company Ruthco, and they moved their office between Midland and Odessa. Ruthco designed and constructed the first portable cement base for an oilfield pump jack, and now you can find Ruthco bases all over Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Cecil eventually became the owner of Ruthco, then sold out in 1986.
Cecil was a Christian and came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1952 while attending a little Baptist church in Crane. From that point, he gave the remainder of his life, serving Him whole-heartedly. He was always there, always available, and always had a good word of encouragement for everyone. Cecil was one of the founding members of Teen Challenge of the Permian Basin, and served on their board for 35 years. After Cecil sold Ruthco, he became an ordained minister and co-pastored Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Midland. Cecil served the body of Christ in the Permian Basin for over 45 years.
His wife, Norma, passed away on September 21, 2003. They were married fifty-eight years. Cecil again found love, and married Bonnie Pace Snelson, a long-time friend, on November 4, 2006.
Cecil was preceded in death by a baby daughter, Dana Kaye, his parents, two brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Pace Snelson Robinson of Midland; daughter Mona Clare Kinder and husband Don of Lubbock; granddaughter, Krista Bumstead and husband Matt of Lubbock; granddaughter Kasey Sims and husband Kelly of Amarillo; grandson, Jeremy Kinder and wife Jen of Austin and sister, Nell Addison of Vacaville, California. Cecil enjoyed his great-grandchildren; Susannah, Ash and Nate Bumstead; Ethan and Gavin Sims, and Eliza and Quinn Kinder.
We are grateful for the wonderful nurses, aids, staff and administrators at Midland Senior Care and would like to extend our appreciation for your wonderful care of Cecil during the latter part of his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Teen Challenge of the Permian Basin, P O Box 251, Midland, TX 79702.
There will be a funeral service at Second Baptist Church in Midland on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Matt Bumstead, Kelly Sims, Jeremy Kinder, Steven Dean, Murry Stehle and Jumon Hailey.
Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18