Carol (Robbie) Robinson

CAROL (ROBBIE) ROBINSON

Santa Barbara, Calif.

Carol (Robbie) Robinson, 86, originally from Norway, Iowa, died July 16, 2017, at his home in Santa Barbara (Montecito), Calif., the same house he's lived in the past 60 years.

He was buried with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Calif., on July 26.

Carol was born the ninth of 12 children to Earl and Florence (Gerard) Robinson on a farm south of Victor on April 20, 1931. Robbie married Yvonne Keller in Bremerton, Wash., on May 18, 1950. They later divorced.

He is survived by three sons, Dean (Vicky) of Colvill, Wash., Randy (Katy) of Issaquah, Wash., and Steven of Port Angeles, Wash.; a special daughter, Miriam Ireton (Paul) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; his Burnese mountain dog, Max; his sister, Marilyn Baulder of Des Moines; his brother, Cloyd (Robby) Shirlene of Cedar Rapids; a sister-in-law, Jeanette Robinson of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

One niece so loved her Uncle Robbie that she lived with him twice. His brother, Robby, in Cedar Rapids stated, "I will miss the morning texts from my 'brother by the sea.'" Robbie took morning walks with his friend and neighbor, Andy Granatelli (an Indy racing car owner), until Andy's death in December 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Harold, Glen, Eugene, Merl, Loyal and Gary; and three sisters, Eunice, Lucille and Avis.

Robbie joined the Navy at age 17 and was honorably discharged at 22. He then became a driver for Greyhound Bus Lines. Within a few years, Robbie was elected president of the western division of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Denver to Los Angeles, representing 3,500 drivers, ticket agents, porters and baggage handlers. During Robbie's two decades as president, he was the chief labor negotiator for all four regions of the United States with Greyhound. It was within this role that he treated one of his nieces to a trip to Las Vegas for the national convention in 1983. They road tripped from Vegas to Phoenix, stopping in Oatman, Ariz., to visit the burros along the way. His niece and great-nephew also fondly recall a memorable road trip from Barstow to Santa Barbara with him.

He will be greatly missed.