Ronald Eugene Robinson

Ronald "Papa" Eugene Robinson passed away on September 21, 2019. It is on that day that his 79-year pilgrimage would reach its terminus, in the embrace of the Lord he loved dearly. He was born on June 21, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan to Margaret and Charles Robinson. Yet, as in a good book, the beginning and end hold no meaning without the tale that lies between. Papa filled those pages from margin to margin, leaving no space untouched by his laughter, jokes, and love. His laugh was either contagious, or lovingly frustrating. When Papa would tell stories of his past, ranging from misadventures delivering milk right into a person's fridge, to the trouble he'd caused as a kid, you could not resist joining in with his cackles. When Papa would argue with you, he'd laugh as you stood there, not knowing if you should be angry, and not knowing if you won or lost (he also did not discriminate based on age, so it wasn't surprising to see him leaving a 5-year-old dumbfounded). No matter the venue or space, one would always know how to find Ron - his laugh would lead the way. Love. When Papa loved something or someone, he practiced no restraint in displaying it. His grandkids and great-grandkids can attest to the sheer volume of love he gifted to them. When other adults were shuddered indoors, doing "adult" things, Papa was out with the children, playing catch or partaking in a game, teaching the young-ones a valuable lesson in how to lose – all in good fun, of course. He cherished the kids so much, he promised each one a fifty percent share of any lottery winnings he might accrue, disregarding the subtleties of how ratios work. Yes, with every generation added to his family, Papa loved them – with his whole soul, he loved them - giving them memories they themselves could add to pages within their own stories. He loved his church. For twenty years, he faithfully attended mass at St. Rita’s of Tulare, California, and served as an usher, mingling with the parish he cared so much for. Though he would tell of odd-jobs in his youth, Papa held deep pride for his 10 years working on the assembly line at Ford Motor Company and the 20 years he worked as a Mail Handler for the United States Postal Service. When someone would express pity or aversion to such work, he would quickly admonish them, telling of how he enjoyed his past jobs and felt lucky to have had them. Working for a decade at an automobile company, it is no surprise that Ron loved cars. Relatives of his would say he was always shopping for his dream car - a perpetual hunt for his ultimate cherry-ride. Papa would take his grandkids to car shows whenever one sprouted up nearby, listening to the golden oldies station and supplying enough stories to fill the trunk of a Lincoln Continental Mark III. A contrast to his other hobbies, Ron was a passionate gardener, tending the plants with pride and care as his statue of Saint Francis presided over his work. He enjoyed engaging the grandchildren with the intricacies of caring for such delicate and temperamental things. His tomato and jalapeño plants were favorites, providing the ingredients for his signature Pico de Gallo. Not the final chapter, but where this telling will end – his wife Christine. They met in August 1973 and were married later that fall on November 23rd. 45 years of marriage and they never strayed far from each other’s reach. His love above all other loves, the breath in his lungs, and mirth in his smile. Aristotle said, “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” Even now, their connection retains its strength, never able to perish, longing for the moment to merge once more. A final footnote, a toast to the man that meant so much to so many, whom we will continue to toast every June 21, as he did for his father before. It is there that the book must close. A life lived well and lived full. Ronald Eugene, Papa, can rest at last in tranquility, closing the back cover with that satisfying creak of the spine, and give the old book a gentle pat saying, “You know, that was a great story.” ✧ ✧ ✧ Ron is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christine; Sister Linda (Danny) Long; Brother Bill (Kay) Robinson; and Ron’s children, Brent Robinson; Renay (Steve) Acord; Ronnie Hahn; Misty (Mike) Ortiz; Tammy (Scott) Kruzack; Wendy Robinson. He will be warmly remembered by his 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Ron was preceded in death by his parents Charles & Margaret Robinson. He was a cherished, favorite character to all that knew him. In our own stories he will be missed, but never forgotten. ✧   The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Rita’s Catholic Church 654 South ‘O’ Street, Tulare, California 9:30 am – Wednesday, October 2, 2019 - Interment to follow at Exeter District Cemetery   In Lieu of flowers please donate to the Saint Rita's Church Building Fund- In Honor of Ronald Robinson. https://www.gofundme.com/f/st-ritas-building-fundin-memory-of-ron-robinson?rcid=r01-156970942162-9cf726d50f6845e4&pc=sm_co_shareflow_m