On Thursday, April 10, 2014, in Orange City, Florida, with family at his side, Joseph Eugene Robinson completed the near century long earthbound portion of a mission that began on July 17, 1918.

Gene, as he was called for all of his life, was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, graduating from Phillips H.S. in 1937. He was son of Joseph Richard Robinson (June 29, 1884-October 21,1958) and Hattie Strickland Robinson (February 9, 1886- May 5, 1976) and brother of Jamie Robinson McRee (January 12, 1915 - September 17, 2003). In 1940 Gene enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard which was mobilized a few months later. Gene served his country in the Army Air Corps for 5 years, through the end of WWII and demobilization. During most of the war s/sgt Robinson was a B-25 crew chief serving with the 42nd Bombing Group of the 13th Air Force at bases in Guadalcanal, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Gene re-joined the Alabama Air National Guard after it was re-activated a few years after the war and served until the fall of 1950 when he entered Lipscomb College. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and was elected senior class President (52/'53).

After graduation, Gene preached the Gospel in Fultondale and Gardendale, Alabama before settling in Hollywood, Florida. In the mid-sixties Gene began teaching school for the Broward County Florida school system while continuing to preach in South Florida. Over his first few summers he earned a Master's Degree in Sociology from Middle Tennessee College. Gene continued to preach the Gospel and continued full-time teaching for 31 years. He lost his first wife Mary Sue Robinson to cancer in 1995. In 1997 Gene married Charlotte Ann Robinson, ne Ward. Gene retired with Charlotte to Deltona, Florida in 2000 after spending a self-described "52 wonderful years preaching the Gospel and influencing young people".

As everyone who knew him is well aware, Gene was a generous, caring and just plain wonderful husband, uncle, father, and grandfather as well as preacher, teacher, mentor, and friend. He was very much loved by many and will be sadly missed by all.

Gene is survived by his wife Charlotte Ann Robinson of Deltona, Fl.; special niece (who he loved as a daughter) Mary Jo (Raymond) Dorning of Hoover, Al.; nephew James (Patty) McRee of Germantown, Tn.; step-daughter Deborah (Wallace) Ritchie of Port Orange, Fl.; step-daughter Colleen (John) Ciambriello of Deltona, Fl., and step-son Steve (Leslie) Maney of Concord, N.C.; grandchildren John Austin Ciambriello, Kegan Ritchie, Kyla Ritchie, Killian Ritchie, and Brittany Ciambriello all of Central Florida; great nieces and nephews Matthew (Melinda) Dorning of Lee's Summit, Mo., Robin Dorning (Joey) Duke of Hoover, Al., Joel (Amy) Dorning of Hoover, Al., and Amber (Brian) Turner of Germantown, Tn.; first cousins Jim (Julia) Strickland of Mountain Brook, Al. and Mary Torrence Bailey of McCalla, Al.; and twelve great nieces and nephews.

The earthbound portion of his mission complete, Gene's body will be interred at his birthplace in Birmingham. Always a man of God, Gene himself now resides in eternal peace with Jesus awaiting the thousands he has touched during his 95 years on earth. May we all be blessed to some day be with this wonderful man once again.