Howard was one of nine children born to Mack and Willie Robinson. Born in Lewiston, Utah he grew up there until the family moved to Portland in the 1930s. During WWII he was a welder at Kaiser shipyards, building Victory ships, until he was drafted to serve in the Phillippines. After the war, Howard met Virginia Noe at the Imperial Rolling Skate Rink and they married in 1949. They raised three children together and spent their retirement years traveling.
Howard was a storyteller, who took more than a little artistic license to make the story interesting. During camping trips, his short trip to collect firewood could take hours. His family would find him in animated conversation, swapping tall tales with a perfect stranger. He also helped out a few of his son’s childhood friends who needed extra parental guidance, earning him the title “number two”, short for number two dad.
Each summer he planted a vegetable garden with a jungle-like tomato patch, the goal of which was to cultivate the perfect beefsteak tomato for his favorite BLT sandwich. Although he never gave up the secrets of his famous soupy potatoes recipe to his children, he passed on to them his curiosity and resourcefulness, and provided support for them to try, fail, and finally succeed in their life endeavors.
A Celebration of Life luncheon will take place:
April 29, 2018 from 11 am to 2 pm
McMenamins Edgefield
The Barley Room (Robinson Celebration of Life)
2126 SW Halsey
Troutdale OR 97060
Military honors will be rendered at Noon.
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