Harry English Robinson, Jr. passed away on Oct. 23, 2013 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was born on May 24, 1939 to Ermine Cater and Harry English Robinson, Sr. in Atlanta and was proud to be a member of the ‘39ers, a group of Atlantans born in 1939. He was the great-grandson of Civil War Captain and later Mayor of Atlanta, J.W. English. He graduated from The Westminster Schools in 1957. After high school English attended Vanderbilt University for one year and then transferred to the University of Georgia where he graduated in 1961 with a degree in business. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Upon graduation, English started a long career in the property and casualty business with Duncan Peek and later with Hamilton Dorsey Alston. When he retired, he started his own company – Why Wrap? – which manufactured and sold his patented design of self-locking shipping boxes.
By all accounts English was a faithful watcher of FOX News and a long-time subscriber to the National Enquirer (“The Paper”). He was an inveterate traveler, enjoying family trips and adventures with friends. He favored “the scenic route” even if it took longer or he got lost. He played golf and cards and was an avid hunter and fisherman. English was playful and good humored – even during his illness – and especially loved animals. He enthusiastically instigated touch football games as captain of the Broadland Road Gang– with English as “all-time quarterback”. He also enjoyed sledding in the snow at Chastain Park and his annual family beach trips. English particularly loved the seclusion of Daufuskie Island, where he maintained a home for many years. He loved beach music and American history. His love of history led to visits to places of historical importance, particularly a recent family trip to Normandy, France. Friends and family delighted in his company, as he was always the “life of the party”.
English inspired his children and grandchildren to be proud, as he was, of their family history – but not arrogant; he always set an example of generous giving and forgiving.
English is survived by his wife of 37 years, Marcia Pepper Robinson, and their children Cynthia Robinson Fox (Bill), Cater Robinson Carlton (Chris), Mary Katherine Greene (Tom) and Matthew Allison Smith, Jr. (Stephanie) all of Atlanta. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren: William Farrell Fox, III (“Cody”), Carlyn English Fox, Winston Dean Fox, Cynthia Arden Carlton, Ermine Cater Carlton, Holland Carlton, Mary English Greene (“Meme”), Michael Pepper Smith and Matthew Robinson Smith.
He is survived by his brother Peyton Cater Robinson, Sr. (Mary) of Atlanta and their children Peyton Cater Robinson, Jr. (Lucinda) and English Alexander Robinson of Charleston, S.C. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Lucia D. Pepper and Marcia’s sister and brother in law, Mary and Rhette Anderson – all of Pensacola, Fla. – and his nephew Will Anderson (Jennifer) of Memphis, Tenn.
He is also survived by long-time caretaker and friend Shirley Mason, whom he loved dearly and by his cousins Frances Huber of Roaring Gap, N.C.; Josephine Westerville of Pasadena, Calif.; Al Thornwell and Jim Thornwell (Linda), of Ponte Vedra, Fla.
English was a long-time member of the Piedmont Driving Club and the Capital City Club in Atlanta. He was also a member of the Highlands Country Club in Highlands, NC and the Atlanta Homosassa Fishing Club in Florida. He was a member of the Nine O’Clocks, the Society of Colonial Wars, the “Literary Society” and the Roundtable. He served on the Board of Trustees for Historic Oakland Cemetery. He supported many civic and charitable organizations including the Atlanta History Center, the Forward Arts Foundation, PATH and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.
The family will receive guests at H.M. Patterson Spring Hill Funeral Home during a visitation on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.
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