William E. Robison

William E. Robison of Springfield, born April 7, 1930, passed away at home, surrounded by his family on October 3, 2010. He was the son of Harry M. and Rose (Wood) Robison. He married Helen Elizabeth Cooley on May 20, 1950 and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Bill was fiercely devoted to his family and valued hard work. He was a member of Bricklayer's Local #4 for 55 years working as a bricklayer foreman for Evans and Mason Masonry for 32 years retiring in May of 1992. He was well-liked and highly respected by his co-workers and fellow tradesmen earning a craft award from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen for his work on the Illinois State Library – best stone project in the nation. He worked on numerous buildings in the city of Springfield and supervised projects such as the Old State Capitol Mall, The Journal-Register Building, The Vietnam War Memorial at Oak Ridge Cemetery, St. John's Pavilion, Lincoln's Home Visitor Center and and the historic stone steeple at Grace Lutheran Church, 7th and Capitol.

Surviving are his wife, Helen, three children, Jane Deavers of Naples, FL and Blowing Rock, NC, William (Buck) Robison of Springfield, Beth (John) Paoli also of Springfield and two grandsons, Ian and Ethan Paoli. He was preceded in death by his sister, Viola Clingan Fishwick, brother Harry M. Robison, Jr. and is survived by his sister, Linda (Cruz) Cedillos of Athens, IL, sister-in-law, Sharleen Robison of Springfield, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 6 from 4 -5:45 p.m. A service will follow at 6 p.m. at Bisch & Sons Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen St. in Springfield. A private burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Rochester Christian Church, 325 S. Walnut, Rochester, IL 62563. To honor Bill and the way he lived his life, the family requests that friends and relatives perform a random act of kindness in his memory.