Lt. Col. George Aaron Robinson

George Aaron Robinson, 95, passed away on Friday, June 21, 2013, in Tallahassee, Florida.

George or "Robbie" as his close family and friends called him, was born September 25, 1917, in Onida, South Dakota. Born to a family of ranchers, George grew up in the vast outdoors of Wyoming and Nebraska. As a youngster, living in the western wilderness, Robbie rode horses to and from school as well as on the family ranch and out of necessity learned the intricacies of being a plumber, electrician and master carpenter.

Joining the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the statutory forerunner of the United States Air Force in 1941, he spent time in China with the Flying Tigers during World War II. After abolishment as an administrative unit, George transitioned from the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) to the United States Air Force (USAF), in 1947 where he specialized in communications and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 1963. After retirement from the United States Air Force (USAF), George spent a short time in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon and then was recruited by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as Chief Telecommunicator for the Gemini and Apollo Space Programs at the Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral) during the mid 1960s through the early 1970s. After retiring from NASA, in 1976, George moved to Tallahassee in support of his wife's retirement from the Florida House of Representatives and her appointment as head of the Department of Agriculture, Division of Consumer Services. As a retiree, George dabbled in Real Estate as well as pursued his lifelong passion for leather craft and woodworking.

George is preceded in death by his wife, Jane W. Robinson and youngest son Timothy J. Robinson.

He is survived by his oldest daughter, Jane Koestel of San Francisco, CA; son, George Michael Robinson (Robin) of Rocky Mt., NC; and daughter, Laurie R. Black (John) of Tallahassee, Florida. George is also survived by six grandchildren and one great grandson.

Funeral Services for Lt. Col. Robinson are scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at Culley's Meadowood Funeral Home on Timberlane Road at 11:00AM, with graveside services to follow at Roselawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that interested parties continue George's commitment to helping others by making contributions to Big Bend Hospice 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32308