Eben Junior Robinson
March 15, 1922 - March 13, 2008
Obituary
Eben J. Robinson, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, age 85, passed away peacefully March 13, 2008 at his home in ‘the great, grand, glorious Northwest.’ Eben is survived by his wife and best friend of 60 years, Joy; his son, Michael Eben Robinson Jodie; daughter, Susan Teemant Jaan; nine grandchildren, Kaare Jayson, Kris Veronica, Michael Kelly, Drew, Lindsey, Wade, Sheila, Kyle and Chase; three great-granddaughters, Estee, Ella and Maarete; brother, William Lee Robinson and sister, Margaret Robinson Liddle. Eben grew up in a large, close-knit family on a ranch in Grace, Idaho. He graduated from Grace High School in 1940 and attended University of Idaho 1940-41. During World War II from 1942-45, Eben served in the Army Air Force. On September 6, 1947, he married Joy Nichols in Ogden, Utah. After graduating from the University of Utah in 1949, Eben began his teaching career in Price, Utah. He and Joy moved to Washington State in 1954. He taught grades 4-8 until 1962 when he became an elementary school principal. His educational career allowed him to touch the lives of many. He loved the students, parents, faculty and staff that he had the opportunity to associate with during this period of his life. In 1986, he retired from a fulfilling educational career after having the opportunity to work at several elementary schools in Federal Way School District. After his retirement, Eben and Joy served an LDS mission in the Rapid City South Dakota mission from 1986-87. He was very active in the LDS church and enjoyed his service there. Eben had a fun sense of humor and enjoyed getting to know everyone he met. He enjoyed participating in and sharing several of his hobbies: rose gardening, rock polishing, sailing, singing and photography. Visitation will be held on Thursday, 03/20 from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm at BONNEY-WATSON Federal Way, 1535 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA 253 839-7317. Committal and Military Honors will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA, Friday, 03/21 at 1:30 pm. Memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, 03/22, 1:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Federal Way Ward, 841 S 308th St., Federal Way, WA 98003.
Wayne, Lindsey and Sheila and I always looked forward to driving down from Redmond to meet Joy and Eben at The Country Buffet in Federal Way. It was our tradition and we all enjoyed these get together’s.
We would stay for hours, sampling as many things as we could manage with Eben and Wayne competing as to who could fill up their plates the most times, but more importantly, we catch up with any news we had from the last time we had gotten together and spend time enjoying each others company.
Wayne remembers an afternoon he spent with Eben sharing their mutual interest in rocks, gems and minerals and all things lapidary. Wayne said he not only learned a lot from Eben but thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together. Eben presented him with a rock polishing tumbler at the end of the day.
Eben had so many passions in his life and he loved sharing them with anyone who was interested. From rocks to roses and all his other many hobbies, his church and fellow congregants, his friends and family, he loved it all with enthusiasm and passion. It was obvious to anyone around him that he truly loved life and everyone in his life and he lived it to the fullest!
Dear Grandfather.
You would grab me so and hold me close and
I would feel your soul a warming force
Of holy love that you don’t hold back,
And I will always remember that.
Your hold, your words your voice the verse,
The echoed thoughts of God’s own prose,
The poetic praise, the love and trust,
I heard through the words that I know I must
Be one with time and holy grace,
and remember each moment the look on your face.
I am loved I am lovely by your love and I’m only feeling sorrow for knowing you were as nobody else,
And I will carry your presence as a gift from the heavens
And I will shower the love you showed, so sweet in expression,
And I will capture you lovely in eternal memory that is living on merrily in the void I’ll replace.
I will live I will love as I knew only like you,
I will hold those I love as they’re asking for too
You have shown us all how and all of us thank you,
A kiss on the brow and I am grateful for you.
my mother sent me a copy of the obituary for your dad. i knew him when i was in high school and college and dated mike, and was given the opportunity to take the missionary discussions in his and sis. robinson’s home. i saw them at church a year or so ago during a visit and spoke to them about my life and theirs since them, and expressed my gratitude for their example, hospitality and patience. i am so happy to have been able to do that and to tell them what an influence they were. i remember bro. robinson as a happy and jovial man, with a great sense of humor, whose family was of the utmost importance to him. my condolences to your family from someone far away who will STILL miss your dad and be thankful for having known him. jo fields burby
jburby@hotmail.com
My dear Uncle Eben.. Boy will I miss him! What a loss for Joy, Susan and Mike! You should know that we share your loss and sorrow. What a Great Uncle he was! So many of my childhood memories include him being there. He would light up a room with his great wit and charm. He would make all the nieces and nephews feel important, loved and accepted. He later extended his love to my wife and children. He showed his love and care for all his siblings and their lives and struggles. We cannot replace Uncle Eben. We can only hope to follow his example in how we treat each other and especially our families.