B.J. Robinson, Jr.

B. J. Robinson Jr. died at his home in his beloved city, Austin, Texas during the early hours of July 2, 2020. B. J was born on March 20, 1921 in the Austin suburb of Del Valle, but B. J. always maintained he was born in Austin. He explained the discrepancy by blithely designating the unincorporated community of Del Valle, a scant six miles from Austin, part of Austin in the hearts and minds of all Austinites.

B. J. was the oldest of the boisterous clan of five born to Gertrude and Buster John Robinson. B. J's siblings, Robert (Bob) Robinson, Mary Harris, Dollie Hannah, and Jack Robinson all predeceased him. B. J. married Oneta Presley on December 23, 1939, and their shared adventure of fifty-seven years began. B. J. traveled to Salina, Kansas, where he begin an employment with the construction company Morrison – Knudsen. B. J. and “Neta,” as she was known by their friends, welcomed their daughter Brenda into the world in 1941. More than a year later, while working in Arkansas, their son Byron Robinson was born. B. J. rose quickly through the ranks of MK during the early part of the 1940's.

He was drafted into the army in 1945. After serving his country in World War II, B. J., Neta, Brenda, and Byron lived in Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and California as B.J. rose through the ranks of MK from rigger to rigging foreman to rigging superintendent to general superintendent. B. J. was true to his own principles: (1) never ask any of those who work under your guidance to do anything you would not do; (2) work harder than those who work under your guidance. These two principles made B. J. very popular with those who worked under his direction and those for whom he worked.

After the project in California was completed, B. J. was asked to become a member of MK International. His first assignment was as general superintendent of a dam being built in Iran. He moved his family to Iran. During the Iranian project Brenda and Byron returned to the United States, and B. J. and Neta began their travels to other parts of the world building dams and bridges. Their travels took them to Algeria, Indonesia, Portugal, Papua New Guinea, back to Iran, and Canada. B. J. and Neta returned to Texas for their retirement years.

Neta had begun to show the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. As Neta moved through the stages of Alzheimer's, B. J. was her only caretaker until her death. He was there for her seven days a week - twenty-four hours a day. After Neta's death, B. J. moved to his beloved Austin where he became an active member of Fairview Church of Christ until his death. B. J. is survived by his daughter Brenda Moss and son-in-law Daryl, son Byron Robinson and wife Cindy, grandsons David Moss and wife Elise, Steven Moss and wife Kim, granddaughter Lenaya Robinson, granddaughter Shanna Brannen and husband Michael, and great grandchildren Andrew Moss, Jonathan Moss, Thomas Moss, Kaylie Moss, Braydon Moss, Aubrey Robinson, Mya Brannen, Ryan Brannen, nephews Jeff Robinson and wife Pam, Greg Robinson and wife Lynn, Michael Robinson and Partner Michael S., nephew Jerry Browner and wife Karen, nephew Jack Jay Hanna, and niece Martha Robinson.

In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to Central Texas Children's Home, 13200 Crane Rd., Buda, TX 78610.