Richard E. Robinson

Richard E. Robinson, 92, passed away unexpectedly on October 30, 2014. He was a loving husband and father and a caring friend. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Gloria and his youngest son, Douglas.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July 1941 and served as a Chief Flight Engineer with the 10th Air Force in India flying supplies over the “Hump” (the Himalayas). In July 1948 he flew in the Berlin Airlift.

In 1965 he retired from the Air Force as a Major, having had the distinction of being the youngest Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corps and later the oldest Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. He began his second career working for the Central Intelligence Agency 1966 and was presented with the Career Intelligence Medal upon retiring from the CIA in 1977.

He was a Lifetime Member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and was a longtime member of the local Mayport Chapter, serving as President in 1986.

He loved to dance and, much to the delight of his family, signed up for dance lessons at age 84. He golfed into his late 80’s. He will be remembered as a man who loved his family, his friends and all animals great and small.

He is survived by his daughter Linda Robinson-Cawley (Tom); his son Rick Robinson (Gloria); his granddaughters Danielle Burtner-Cawley (Jonathan) and Noel M. Cawley (Doug Pearsall); his grandson Tom Cawley (Maureen); grandsons Mark and Michael Robinson, and Brian Cawley; granddaughters Katie, Maggie, and Amelia Cawley; great grandsons Aidan and Andrew Burtner, and his loving companion Patricia Tompkins- Hairston.

Memorial donations may be made to “The Wounded Warrior Project” in lieu of flowers.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 8th at 2 PM at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach. Burial will follow at the Warren Smith Cemetery, Fr. William Kelly presiding. Full military honors will be rendered at the cemetery.