Clarence A. ""Robbie Robins

Clarence Acra Robins Jr.- JOHNSTOWN, CO - Clarence A. Robins, 90, a native of Portsmouth, VA and resident of Johnstown, CO since 2011, passed away at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO on Friday, October 28, 2016. Mr. Robins was preceded in death by his parents Clarence A. Robins Sr. and Helen Thornton Robins; sister Bernadette Robins Lane; brother-in-law Carey Lane and a nephew, Byron Nelson. He is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Shirley Craig Robins; three children - David Robins (and wife Valerie) of Stow, Ohio; Barbara Robins Culley of Johnstown; Leza Robins Shupe (and husband Mark) of Highlands Ranch, CO; five grandchildren – Walter Robins, Erin Culley Stewart (and husband Matthew Stewart), Ryan Culley, Jaime Culley and Rachel Shupe; two great-grandchildren - Brenna Stewart and Makenna Stewart.

Mr. Robins was known as “Robbie” to all who knew and loved him. Born in Portsmouth, VA on September 23, 1926, Robbie had recently celebrated his 90th birthday dinner with so many of his family in attendance. One of his favorite pastimes and something that brought him joy was simply spending time with family. He also loved watching Virginia Tech football and Colorado Rockies baseball and was a consummate collector of fine writing instruments.

Robbie received his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA in 1949. While working at GMAC in Norfolk, VA he met and fell in love with Shirley Craig of Norfolk, VA. They were married in Malden, MO on March 1, 1952 and lived in several different cities while Robbie served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. In 1954 his dreams of working as an engineer were finally realized when he started his career with NASA (called NACA at the time). He worked on several projects including the Scout missile and then Viking, the first Mars lander. The Viking project brought the Robins family to Lakewood, Colorado in 1969 where Robbie and Shirley raised their children and lived until moving back to Virginia in 2000. After living 11 years in Chesapeake, VA, Robbie and Shirley moved back to Colorado to be near children and grandchildren and chose Johnstown as home.

Robbie loved his Lord Jesus, his wife and family and was always an active member of every church he attended. His sense of humor, funny stories and the way he loved us all will be missed by his family and closest friends.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to their family physician, Dr. Deric T. McIntosh and all of the wonderful Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care staff at Medical Center of the Rockies. A small memorial service is planned for Wednesday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Johnstown, 21 S. Denver Ave., Johnstown, CO 80538.

Contributions may be sent to The Limb Preservation Foundation at http://limbpreservation.org/get-involved/donate.html