March 16, 2016

Gard Adrian Robinson went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 10, 2016. He was born Nov. 25, 1916, one mile east of Blue Mound, Kan. He was the son of Gardner and Ina (Austin) Robinson, the middle of three children. 

Adrian attended a country grade school, Buckeye #101, graduating from Blue Mound High School in 1935. After two years farming with his dad, he attended Chanute Junior College, graduating in 1939. While at college he played football and was the charter president of the C-Club (athletic club) his sophomore year. He lived and worked at the Chanute fire station. 

After college he returned home, farming with his dad until World War II broke out in 1941.  He enlisted in the Army Air Force, becoming a mechanic, and attended aircraft training at Shepherd Field in Wichita Falls, Tex. He was then sent to Westover Base in Springfield, Md., and Dover, Del., to hunt German subs up and down the East Coast.

While on the East Coast, he met his future bride Ruth, a roommate of Eltheda Robinson Kennedy, Adrian’s first cousin. After the German subs were wiped out, his troop traveled to Oakland, Calif., and then set sail for Hawaii. There he repaired B-24s that had been in combat in the South Pacific. From Hawaii he went to Saipan in the Mariana Islands and on to Guam, maintaining B29s. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 25, 1945, returning home to a life of farming. 

Adrian and Ruth Evelyn Dodson of Los Angeles, Calif., united in marriage on Nov. 30, 1947. “That was when life began,” said Adrian. To this union were born a daughter Janet Lee and a son James Adrian. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage. Both children loved and honored their dad. 

He was an avid gardener, happily sharing his produce with others. His other interests were fishing and reading. He would always go the extra mile for anyone and thought it no trouble.

Adrian was the charter president of the Lions Club, served on the Blue Mound High School board many years, was a member of the Linn County planning committee, and served on the REA board 29 years. At the Federated Church where he was a member, he held numerous positions, including Sunday School superintendent, youth group director, deacon, and his most loved job as adult Sunday School teacher for around 50 years. In 1961, he accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord and is now home with Him.

Adrian was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Oma Robinson Elliott; a brother Truman Robinson; and a grandson Caleb Robinson.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Vintage Park in Ottawa; a daughter Janet Robinson Wright and husband, Brent, of Ottawa, Kan.; a son James Robinson and wife, Teri, of Coffeyville, Kan.; five grandchildren: Todd Wright and wife, Catherine, of Ottawa, Kan., Abby Robinson Howe and husband, Brian, of Great Bend, Kan., Sara Robinson Forsythe and husband, Josh, of Wellington, Kan., Luke Robinson and wife, Christine, of Pittsburg, Kan., Ben Robinson of Pittsburg, Kan.; and three great-grandchildren: Eli Forsythe, Nathan Wright and Davin Wright.

Adrian was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed by all of his loved ones.

A memorial service was held at the Blue Mound Federated Church on March 14, 2016, with military honors.