Obituary of Robert J. Robinson

Robert "Bob" J. Robinson, 84, of Niles, Mich., and previously of Berrien Springs, passed away Thursday, October 13, 2011 at West Woods of Niles Nursing Home in Niles. He was born in Denver, Colorado to the late Phillip and Florence (McHattie) Robinson. Bob wed Martha Hlad at a ceremony in Nevada, Iowa. They had two children together; Stephen and Karolee. Bob spent his first nine years of life in Battle Creek, Mich., and after relocating with his parents to Corning, N.Y., attended and graduated from Union Springs Academy in upstate N.Y. He is a WW II veteran and was drafted into the U.S. Army-Air Corps in 1943 where he served first as a communication's specialist/radio operator at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., and was later trained as a medical technician at Mather Air Field in Sacramento, Calif. After his discharge, he first attended Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Mass., before transferring to Emmanuel Missionary College in 1945, now Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Mich., to study business administration and French. He and Martha married on Oct. 15, 1950. Bob took a sabbatical from earning his degree to work as an announcer and remote broadcast engineer for WCBA radio station in Corning, NY. In 1951, he and Martha moved to Chicago, Ill., where he first worked in sales for Clarke Sanding & Equipment Co. and later for Dunn & Bradstreet as a credit investigator. He returned to Emanuel Missionary College and completed his bachelor's degree in 1955. Following graduation, he was hired by the Faith for Today television ministries in Forest Hills, N.Y., where he worked as director of the Film Department. While in New York, Bob began studies toward earning a Master's in Business Administration at The City College of New York. During the winter of 1960, Bob and his family moved to Takoma Park, Md., where he served as Assistant Business Manager at Columbia Union College, now Columbia Adventist University. While at CUC, he attended George Washington University, Washington, D.C., completing all requirements to be awarded an MBA from The City College of New York. In 1968 he was hired by Union College in Lincoln, Nebr., to serve a Business Manager. While there, he was active in Kiwanis International, Downtown Lincoln Chapter and served twice as their President. In 1976, Bob rejoined the faculty at Columbia Union College where he served as Chairperson of the Business Department. In 1977, he was hired by Andrews University to serve as the Director of Personnel and Student Finance. During his 20-year tenure, he was active in Kiwanis International, St. Joseph Chapter, serving as their president from 1987-88. He was also involved in the Personnel Roundtable of Southwest Michigan, serving for a time as their Chapter President. He was a member of the teaching faculty at Columbia Union College, Union College and Andrews University. While at Columbia Union College, Bob also tied his interest in teaching together with his passion for flying to co-found a flying club for students and faculty. His interests included, first and foremost, his family, service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, flying as a private pilot and being an award-winning amateur photographer with the Berrien Springs Photo Club. Bob is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Martha, his wife of 61 years, also of Niles; his children Karolee Robinson of Chicago, Ill., and Stephen and Michelle Robinson of Lancaster, Calif.; grandchildren Stephen Eiji Robinson of Orange County, Calif., Satoshi Erik Robinson of Loma Linda, Calif., and Esther Mei Ling Robinson of Lancaster, Calif.; and three great- grandchildren Kaelynn, Christian and Elijah Robinson, all of Orange County, Calif. A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, at 521 East Main Street in Niles. Contributions can be made in Bob's honor to Andrews University's Endowed Scholarship Fund, c/o Office of Development, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0660.