ROBINSON, Perle Eugene

Perle Eugene Robinson, "Gene/Robbie", April 14, 1934-December 29, 2003. Gene departed this earth suddenly at the age of 69, to be with our heavenly father. He is survived by his faithful wife of 50 years, Bonnie; his mother, Katie of Terre Haute, IN.; three sons, John (Donna), Albany, OR, Ted (Cindy), and Bruce (LeeAnn), both of Tucson; two brothers, Donald, Petersburg, IN; Jerry, Oklahoma City, OK; two sisters, Janet, Las Vegas; NV; and Mary (Mel) Tomlinson, Southbury, CT; grandchildren; Brandi, Sarah, Michael, Bethany, Moriah, Katie and Alex, plus many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends all over the U.S. He was employed full time by the Army National Guard until his retirement in 1989. In the Guard he served as a Property Accounting Officer at the USP&FO for AZ. He also served as a part-time instructor at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, AR, after his retirement. Gene's total service with the Guard was 42 years. He lived in Tempe for 25 years. Since retirement, he and Bonnie have traveled for approximately nine months of each year for the past seven years. They served and participated with SOWERS, Arizona Dream Catchers, and Alpenlite Travel Club (of which he was on the Executive Board for the past two years). The winter months were spent in Tucson at Far Horizons Tucson Village. In Tempe they were members of the Cross Point Community Church. Gene had many hobbies and enjoyed working with his hands, even cooking. He also enjoyed helping his sons and grandson work in their workshops, with their homes and on their vehicles. He was loved by many and will be missed by all. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (the disease which took his life was Usual Interstitial Pneumonitis) c/o Robinson, PO Box 17480-198, Tucson, 85731-7480, or to the First Church of God, 3355 N. Fontana, Tucson, 85705 referencing Gene's name and "Endow the Dream". The funeral was held on Saturday, January 3 at the First Church of God in Tucson with Rev. Larry Locke officiating. A procession will return to East Lawn with full graveside military services and interment. Published in the Arizona Republic on 1/3/2004.