Joseph Perry Robinson Jr.

Dr. Joseph Perry Robinson, Jr., 79, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Vallejo, California, on January 29, 1947, to U.S. Navy Chief Joseph Perry Robinson, Sr. and Mary Baker Robinson, Joe lived a life marked by unwavering faith, devoted service, and deep love for his family.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra "Sandy" Harford Robinson, with whom he shared 61 wonderful years and nearly 57 years of marriage; his sister, Mary Robinson Hannah; his children, Joseph Perry Robinson III, John Arthur Robinson (Elizabeth), and Dr. Lacey LeeAnn Robinson; and his cherished grandchildren, Andrew, William, Emily, and Adele, who brought him immeasurable joy.

Joe was raised in a proud Navy family, spending his childhood in communities around the world as his father's military service took the family from one duty station to another. Those experiences instilled in him adaptability, resilience, and a lifelong appreciation for people from every walk of life. His family's travels brought them to Rockville, Maryland, where Joe graduated from Richard Montgomery High School. There, he played football for the All-Metropolitan Championship Rockets before continuing his education at West Virginia University. A proud West Virginia Mountaineer, he earned both his undergraduate degree and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree there before serving his country in the United States Navy at Camp Lejeune. He carried the values of discipline, integrity, and service throughout his life, taking great pride in his military service, his profession, and the family he built.

During a dental career spanning more than 40 years, Joe cared for thousands of patients, but he believed dentistry was more than an occupation: it was a calling. He generously shared his talents through his dental practice in Havelock North Carolina, the North Carolina Missions of Mercy clinics, the North Carolina Baptists on Mission Mobile Dental Bus, the MERCI Clinic in New Bern, 33 international dental mission trips with Baptist Medical & Dental Mission International, and countless other opportunities to provide care for those who otherwise would have gone without.

His commitment to service extended well beyond dentistry. He served on the Board of Directors for First Citizens Bank of Havelock; as President of the Tri-County American Dental Association Dental Society; as President of the Havelock Chamber of Commerce; as an elder at Brices Creek Bible Church in New Bern; as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Havelock; and as a volunteer coach for kids’ T-ball, baseball, and football. He was also personally honored by North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt for helping establish the EQUAL education program in Havelock.

Joe's Christian faith was the foundation of his life and guided the way he lived each day. He believed every blessing carried a responsibility to serve others, and he faithfully used his gifts to care for patients, strengthen his community, and share his skills through mission work. One of his guiding principles was, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right," a standard he first set for himself and one that shaped the way he approached his work, his service, and his life. His life was a quiet testimony to Christ's love, expressed not only through his words but through his deeds and the countless lives he touched.

Joe found peace near the water, whether sitting quietly with a morning cup of coffee overlooking the broad waters of the Neuse, venturing offshore into the brilliant blue of the Gulf Stream, or standing in a mountain trout stream, grateful for the beauty, wonder, and stillness of God's creation. Psalm 23 beautifully captures both the peace he sought throughout his life and the comfort his family now holds: "He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul." We rejoice in knowing that the Lord who faithfully led Joe throughout his life has now welcomed him into eternal peace.

Joe's family will honor his life with a private gathering at the family home, where they will celebrate his memory and give thanks for the many blessings of a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial gifts to any ministry or charitable organization that shares Joe's lifelong commitment to proclaiming the love of Christ through compassionate service, healing, and care for others.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Fujimagari and the dedicated nurses and staff of the CarolinaEast Comfort Care Unit for their exceptional compassion, dignity, and care during Joe's final days. Their kindness was a profound blessing to Joe and to all who loved him.

Joe's legacy is found not only in the family he loved and the practice he built, but also in the countless lives he touched and in the example he set: that a life of faith is lived with purpose, honor, integrity, and service.