Grover Robinson
Grover Cleveland Robinson, Jr., 90, passed peacefully from this life while at home with loving family at his side on August 15, 2017.
G.C., as he was known to family and friends, was born to his parents, Grover Cleveland Robinson, Sr. and Mary Eula Hale Robinson on Dec. 1, 1926, in Cookeville Tn., and was delivered at birth by his maternal grandmother, Cora Leah Farley Hale. His family moved to Chattanooga when he was an infant.
He grew up in Chattanooga and was a faithful and obedient son and loving brother. He was also a dedicated and gifted student, graduating from Central High School with top honors, having served in Junior R.O.T.C., and being voted as "The Poet". G.C. was privileged to be one of five young men in Chattanooga to pass testing and be accepted into the Navy V-12 program to study mechanical engineering at Duke University. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke, and then continued his studies at Georgia Institute of Technology where he received his master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1948.
After graduation G.C. worked for Shell Oil for several years and then had a 40-year career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, from 1951 to 1992. G.C. served over seven-years of service in the U.S. Navy achieving status of Lieutenant before transferring to the Naval Retired Reserve in 1966. He married his bride of 63 years, Mattie Lou Geer Robinson, on June 27, 1954 in Cowan, Tn. They made their home in Farragut, Tn., where they raised their four children. G.C. had a brilliant mind, was an avid reader, and continually sought to learn all that he could to further his knowledge and understanding of a multitude of things, in particular those relating to his work and to his avid interest in genealogy, but most especially to the pursuit of theological and philosophical truths. From his teenage years onward, G.C. bent his mind most acutely on studying the Word of God. He studied his Bible daily and even taught himself Greek and Hebrew to further his understanding of the Word. He acknowledged being especially informed by the commentaries of late friend and mentor, James Burton Coffman, and continued to read them on his computer until his last days. G.C.'s study of the Word led him to have a lifelong abiding faith in the promises of Jesus Christ, and despite his many achievements and great intellect he had a humble heart and was a godly and gentle man of integrity. G.C. shared the gospel openly and joyously with everyone who came into his life, and his children and extended family will be forever grateful to him for sharing with them the Good News and for urging them to submit to a new life in Christ. As a member of Laurel Church of Christ, and more recently of Karns Church of Christ, G.C. strove to fulfill an active stewardship by participating at various times in teaching, worship, visitation, and deaf and evangelistic-outreach ministries. He had a particularly strong interest in providing for children without normal sustenance and protection, and to that end participated in support of East Tennessee Christian Services, established in 1980, now merged with Tennessee Children's Home. His strong support of outreach ministries in recent years has benefited several missionary efforts as well as the East Tennessee School of Preaching, now known as the Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies (SEIB).
G.C. is survived by: his beloved wife of 63 years, Mattie Lou Geer Robinson; beloved sister Naomi Maxine Robinson Wheeler; beloved children and grandchildren: son, Timothy Sewell Robinson and his dear friend, Teresa Pegel Mitchell; daughter and son-in-law, Amy Rebecca Simmerman and Scott Glen Simmerman; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen Andrew Robinson and Mary Jennifer Robinson, and granddaughter, Victoria Robinson; daughter and son-in-law, Penelope Ruth Lester and Philip Quintin Lester, and grandsons Quintin Kelly Lester and Philip Ransom Lester; and good friend and brother-in-law, Joseph Franklin Horton. G.C. is preceded in death by: beloved sister, Corinne Elizabeth Robinson, who died in childhood; beloved sister, Sybil Irene Robinson Sentell, and brother-in-law, David Christman Sentell; brother-in-law, William Ray Wheeler, survived by wife Maxine; and beloved sister, Nadia Elise Robinson Horton, survived by husband, Joseph. G.C. and Mattie Lou were also beloved "grandparents" to survivors: Andrew Danner and wife Cory, and children Willa and Audrey; Allison Danner Tucker and husband Joshua, and children Lucas and Bryson; The Behel Family: Al Behel and wife Linda; Kimberly Behel Klingerman and husband Timothy, and children Caleb (and wife Michelle), Matthew, and Ethan; Kevin Behel and wife Kris, and children Marcus, Duncan, Ian, and Caitlin; and Grandson Dhanpersaud Ramkelawan, graduate of SEIB, from Paramaribo, Suriname, and wife Asha, daughter Shania, and Dhan’s entire family.
Special thanks to: Amedisys Hospice, Professional Case Management, Cold War Patriots, U.S. Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs, Casey Keck, Susan Adkisson, Dr. Timothy LeRoy, Sylvia Waters, Dr. John Foust and Robin, Dr. Charles Dye and Pam, Diana Roper, Dana Honeywell, and John Shepherd as well as so many others. We thank you all for your kindness and love in helping us care for our beloved G.C. He was surrounded by angels before he went Home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at Berry Highland West Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery on Aug. 26, receiving of friends, from 12-2 p.m. Interment will follow with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial gifts to: Tennessee Children's Home, P.O. Box 10, Spring Hill, TN 37174; or Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies, 6612 Beaver Ridge Road, Knoxville, Tn. 37931.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.berryhighlandwest.com.