Evelyn Robinson

Evelyn Jean Robinson was born August 23, 1930 in Birmingham, Alabama to John Thomas Bowen and Willie Mae Bowen.  Evelyn walked through the Pearly Gates to the embrace of her Lord and Savior on December 19, 2018.  She had been a one year resident of High Point, North Carolina having relocated from her home of 50 years in Gainesville, Florida to be near her immediate family.  Evelyn had been an army wife for nearly 30 years, married to Lieutenant Colonel William S. Robinson from 1948 to his death in 1985.  During this time she and the family had lived at Fort Jackson, SC, Heilbronn, West Germany, Fort Bliss, TX, Canal Zone, Panama (both Caribbean and Pacific coasts), Fort Knox, KY, Gainesville, FL, Okinawa, Japan and Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI.  She endured almost 20 relocations while keeping the home and raising two sons, William, Jr. (Sandy) and John (Roddy).  Twice she did extended double parenting duty while her husband served his country in Korea and Vietnam.  For 10 plus years Evelyn also served her country as the VFW representative to the VA hospital in Gainesville, Florida where she provided critical material and emotional support to military veterans, many of whom suffered from combat related illnesses, disorders and injuries.  She was recognized for her contributions to patient outcomes on numerous occasions by both the United States Veterans Administration and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  In the community, she was also active in the Gainesville Women’s Club, Gainesville Garden Club, Retired Officers Wives’ Club and the Pine Grove Baptist Church.  Because of her friendly, outgoing personality she served as the church’s Sunday services greeter.  The pastor still brags to this day that no church was lucky enough to have anyone so welcoming as “Miss Evelyn.”  Evelyn cherished her memories of growing up with her parents and siblings in Alabama and of the many unique experiences she had as a military wife and mother.  She was one of six children and was predeceased by her parents and three siblings; sisters Margie Robson and Virginia Kendrick and brother Ronald Bowen.  She is survived by sisters Joan Judd and Jeanette Owens, both of Birmingham, Alabama and by son William Sanford Robinson, Jr. and wife Ruth Ann Robinson, of Jamestown, North Carolina; and son John Ronald Robinson, of Greensboro, North Carolina; and by granddaughters Erica Lindsay Robinson, of San Francisco, California, and Kelly Martina Robinson, of Nashville, Tennessee.  She is loved and missed by all.  May God bless and bestow his infinite mercy.  Services will be held Thursday, December 27 with visitation from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at which time services are rendered, the reverend Jimmy King presiding, followed by burial.  These will be at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens, 1591 Gadsden Highway, Birmingham, AL  35235.