Billy L. Robinson

March 1, 1935 – January 6, 2018

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My name is Billy L. Robinson. I was born March 1st, 1935 to Horace Hale and Ola Dee Robinson of Old Hickory Tennessee. I was one of 6 children, I was told growing up that I never walked anywhere because I was always running somewhere. One of the highlights of my life (besides the woman in this picture which we will get to later) was a quartet that I belonged to in high school. My older brother Wayne was in the quartet with me. We travelled all over the place for over three years. By the time I was a senior we had auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur hour. It was a radio show on WSI Radio. When it got down to Kathy Copus and our quartet we thought we were something else. We were so excited because if we won we would get to go to New York. None of us had even been out of Tennessee. As life would have it Kathy Copus won and then the Korean War happened and broke up our quartet. I graduated Mt. Juliet High School in 1952.

I joined the US Navy in 1954. I was assigned to the USS Redhead in 1956. We pulled into Fort Worden in Port Townsend Washington for some much needed liberty. When it was time for us to go back to the ship I found myself without enough money for cigarettes and gas. I stopped at a little store called Fir Grove which is now Sea Breeze. I asked the little old man that owned the store if I could hock my watch for some cash. After looking over the watch he said he would give me $2. This was exactly what I needed. This watch was given to me by my mother for my 8th grade graduation present and I would certainly be coming back for it. Sure enough a couple weeks later, after getting paid, I went after my much loved watch. Behind the counter of that little store was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid my eyes on. Her name was Joan Condon. That little old man was her dad Gil Condon, See, I told you I would get back to her later. Not only did she give me back my watch but she stole my heart.

I asked the most beautiful woman I knew to marry me in 1956. Her parents Gil & Florella Condon as well as her friends were not too happy about it. They would say “don’t marry a sailor it will never last!” Of course she said yes. Back in those days you didn’t really marry someone who already had children but she came with a 3-year-old son Gilbert Lee. We officially tied the knot on September 26”, 1956. I was not only a new husband but a new dad. We added to our brood July 3rd 1957 with a daughter Melody Sue. I was discharged from the military in 1958. With Joanie’s help I went to Tennessee Tech for 3 years majoring in Electrical Engineering & Physics.

Joanie and I moved around a little bit before I landed a job with General Electric. Then my big break came when I got hired on Full time and permanent by IBM. We moved to Lawrenceburg Indiana and I worked in Cincinnati Ohio. In 1966 we welcomed a daughter, Leslie (Dee) and in 1968 we welcomed another daughter, Traci Marie. I dragged my wife around everywhere and when she asked if she could move back to Washington State to be closer to her parents I agreed. In 1979 IBM transferred me to Seattle. Joanie and the kids lived in Port Townsend while I made the commute back and forth from Seattle to Port Townsend. I officially retired from IBM in 1991 after more than 30 years.

With all the kids grown and out of the house Joanie and I started travelling around the US visiting family and friends. We got serious about it and purchased a travel trailer and then eventually an RV. We sold the house in Port Townsend in 2010 and purchased my mom and dads house in Apache Junction Arizona. We had the best time being retired and travelling around.

The woman in the picture with me was the love of my life. Two people could not have loved each other more than we did. I am convinced of that. You see I lost her March 31st 2017. We were married for over 60 years. Life as I knew it was over. I could not figure out how to go through each day without her. I called the kids all the time. I even learned how to Text! There were some days that I didn’t want to get out of bed. My favorite phrase was “this is tough but we will get through it”. I am certain the girls got tired of me saying it but they never said anything.

We celebrated Thanksgiving of 2017 together, as a big family, in Arizona at my house. It was great. There was so much food and so much love. I will be honest; it just wasn’t the same without Joanie. On January 6th, 2018, nine months later I died of a broken heart. I went to be with our Lord, and the most beautiful woman I knew. I can tell you that I am once again enjoying her laugh, dancing with her, holding her hand, pinching her back side and telling her “gee I love you” all the time. By the way, she is still wearing that red hat!

I am survived by my daughters Melody Sue Robinson of San Antonio, Texas,Leslie (Dee) Jordan of Harper, Texas and Traci Marie Robinson of Henderson, Nevada as well as oodles of grandchildren and great grandchildren. I am also survived by my older brother Wayne Robinson and my younger brother Dean Robinson both of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

At my wish there were no services for Joanie or myself. This was at our request. As for what took so long to write the obituary. Well I’m in heaven with Joanie so you will have to ask the girls.