Otis Kenneth Robbins

ROBBINS, Otis Kenneth- Age 79 of Smith's Cove, passed away March 12th, 2014 in Digby General Hospital. Born in Smith's Cove he was a son of the late Clifford and Edna (Rice) Robbins. Otis worked for Atlantic Wholesalers, drove a mail truck for Canada Post, Department of Agriculture, the majority of his life 50+ years he was a farmer and woodsman. He loved being a grandfather and going to horse and ox pulls. Dad had a love of the land, weather it was gardening, haying for his livestock or even going for a ride on his tractor “back in the field” and saw his 2 daughters get married in those fields. Dad always had a vegetable garden and any extras he was sure to give you a bag full of something when you left. Grampy was a farmer and dad followed in his footsteps, there was always something that he was “fattening up” to later feed his family with. Anything from beef cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, oxen, horses and sheep could be found on the farm. Later on in years dad got much enjoyment from seeing his two horses Dan and bud from his living room window. He loved seeing his grandchildren ride bud. In the spring and summer on any given Saturday or Sunday you could find dad and his good travelling companions Arnold and Eddie Adams going to horse and ox pulls to see who was going to haul the biggest load. Dad actually won 2 times at the South Shore Exhibition the right to represent Canada in the International Ox Pull held in Cumberland Maine. Dad was a member of Smith's Cove United Baptist Church and the Maritime Ox Pulling Association, Digby Co Exhibition. Family dinners were a given for family birthdays, we would all meet at mom and dads for a meal and of course ice cream (sometimes homemade). Otis is survived by wife, Alice (Gray) Robbins; daughters, Cheryl (Jeff) Doucette, Ashmore; Wanda (Mike) Semple, St. Albert, Alberta; sons, Peter (Nancy), Smith's Cove; Jason (Vicky), Smith's Cove; Sisters, Nancy (Russell) Taylor, Truro; Shelia (Benjamin) Marshall, Hillgrove; grandchildren: Brian Robbins, Taylor Melanson, Trinity Robbins, Lauren Semple, Ailey Semple, Mackenzie Robbins, Adrian Lewis; several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Otis was predeceased by brothers, Glendon , Chesley and 3 in infancy; sisters, Muriel and Kathleen.

A special mention to his niece Joan Jandron who always came down from Halifax to see the horses or go up in the field to the garden and to dads lifelong friend, Zeke Croscup who was not only dads chauffeur but a true friend along with Buzzy Trimper, Bruce Ross, Delbert Vanbuskirk and Sam Harnish who always helped out any time asked.