Con Leonard Robinson

Con Leonard Robinson transitioned from this earthly life into his forever life with his Lord on October 26, 2011. He rejoins his beloved wife, Patricia, who died in 2002, and his son, Larry, who passed away in 2010.

He was born in Fillmore, California. He met his wife while in high school in Pasedena, California, and was married the summer after she graduated in 1941. Their son Larry was born in 1942. In 1944 Con enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until November 1945. He trained as a bomber pilot. He re-enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 - 1952. He is a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.

In March of 1945, Con's B-17 was hit. Knowing there was a wounded gunner on the aircraft, he made the decision to crash land his plane along with his co-pilot and navigator. The other crew members had bailed out. He landed between the Russian and German lines. After they landed, he discovered his gunner had been attached to a static line and pushed out. Immediately the plane was peppered with gunfire. Con told the co-pilot and navigator to run. He ran one way to deflect the enemy fire while the remaining crew escaped to the Russian lines. Con was shot in the foot and remained in a foxhole for three days until the Russians picked him up. He was reported Missing In Action. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his heroism. His wife, Patricia, was expecting their second child, Sandra, during this time. She was born in July, 1945.

After resigning from the Air Force in 1952, Con enrolled at Wheaton College (Illinois) where he graduated with a BA in History in 1957. He became a youth pastor in the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Illinois. In 1957 his son, Stephen, was born. From 1958 to the 1990's, Con ministered in Christian Radio, working with the "Radio Bible Class" with Dr. DeHann; the "New Testament Life" with Spiro Zodiates and "Unshackled" with The Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. He produced the Multnomah Bible College radio broadcast, "The Know Your Bible Hour" with Dr. John Mitchell, for 18 years. Later he continued working with Multnomah in the Stewardship Department until he retired in 1997. Mutlnomah honored him by naming the new radio studio after Con.

While Con was missing in action in the foxhole, he had a small New Testament with Psalms in his pocket. His source of hope and comfort was Psalm 91. He continued to love to have Psalm 91 read to him until he died. We had a wonderful 91st birthday celebration with him last September (2011). We read that Psalm and sang the old hymns. He was faithful to his Heavenly Father and longed to be with Him and "my beautiful wife, Pat" every day. All the days of his life were recorded in His Book. Every moment was laid out before the beginning of time. October 26, 2011 was Con's day to see his Lord face to face. What a wonderful day of celebration!

Con is survived by his sister, Joan Emmanuelson and her husband Joe; his niece Tomi Van Dalfsen Blanton, who was especially close to him, and many other nieces and nephews; his daughter Sandra and her husband, Rick Bravine; Larry's wife Irene and his son, Stephen Robinson. Grandchildren: Heather Bravine, Jani Putnam, Mike Bravine and his wife Brianna, Benjamin Bravine, Amy Beth Lorenzen and her husband Eric. He had five great-grandchildren: Joelle and James Morris, Claire and Sophie Putnam, and Josiah Lorenzen.

His sister Peggy Van Dalfsen and brother-in-law Tom, his parents Leonard and Hester Robinson, preceded him in death.

Arrangements under the direction of Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR.