Ervin Robertson

Ervin "Red" Robertson was born in Comanche Oklahoma to Ollie & Gladys Robertson. He was the second oldest of nine children. They came to California from Oklahoma during the Dustbowl when he was a young boy in 1934. They started their lives in Richmond, CA then later moved to Dos Palos, CA where he grew up.

He took an interest in music and cars and learned how to be a mechanic from his Dad & Uncle Carl, affectionally known as “Knuckles”. At the age of 17, he signed up to serve our country in the United States Air Force, where he became an assistant to the Chaplain. He said he would lay on his bunk in his barracks and listen to his fellow airmen tell jokes at night. Some he remembered and shared with us all these years later.

He loved country music, like Hank Williams and the Carter Family. He loved Merle Haggard's music a great deal because he felt a life connection to the stories. He also thought Dwight Yoakam was great as well. He remembered listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio when he was a boy. He played guitar, piano & harmonica, and any time there was a family function, he'd grab a guitar, or find a piano to play.

He loved anything with wheels and an engine and was even a race car driver at Kearney Bowl in the late 50’s early 60’s. He also raced at Madera Speedway on Saturday nights. He was very mechanically inclined and worked on many of his cars, trucks or motorcycles & rebuilt many vehicles. There wasn't a vehicle he couldn't fix.

With the help of his life-long friend, Vaughn Von Allman he and Edith moved to Tranquillity, CA in 1957, where Red was a bus driver for Tranquillity High School for 35 years. He drove the High school band to all their band appearances, countless student field trips and many athletic events. He also took the time to encourage many students who needed it, whether it was a good talking to or waiting a little longer on a student who was running late and was about to miss the bus for school in the morning.

And he was the greatest teacher to his sons who have followed in his footsteps in many of his talents, such as mechanics and music. He spent his final few months with his son Darrell & Daughter in Law Rose where he passed peacefully after one final visit from his wife and daughter.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Edith, son Delvin, daughter in law Patty, their children, Justin & Jaclyn, great grand-daughter Angelina, son Darrell, daughter in law Rose, grand-daughter Tanya, great grandson Jacob and Ervin’s only daughter Karen. He will be missed by all of us in such a big way.

Somewhere in heaven there's a Robertson reunion where there's some front porch pickin' in progress. You won the race. The crown of glory is yours Dad. Rest easy until we see you again. We love you Paw Paw! June 12, 1928 to April 24th, 2021.

A funeral service for Ervin will be held Friday, May 7, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L Street, Fresno, CA 93721.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lislefuneralhome.com for the Robertson family.