Durham Region Newspapers banner

Whitby Free Press, 15 Apr 1987, p. 11

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Brooklin mourns residents' death The Brooklin area showed their respect for:two'local residents by packing Carson Funeral Chapel on Monday, April 6. They came to say their final farewell to Murray and Lucille Robinson, of 156 Baldwin St. Murray passed away on March 28 and Lucille on March 30 while on vacation in Florida. During his 70 years of life, Mr. Robinson engaged in many careers, and· became a valued and well respected citizen of this com- munity. Murray Armstrong Robinson was born into a funeral director's family at their home'on Baldwin St. where Carson's Funeral Chapel now stands. His father vho was known simply as "A.A.", opened a combined furniture store and un- dertaking business at the location. Most of Murray's elementary education came at the "new school" at Winchester and Baldwin Streets, and later at the old Whitby High School, both'of which have since been torn down. After graduating from high school, Mr. Robinson joined his father in the business that was changing with the times. Motor hearses had long since replaced the horse-drawn variety. 'A.A. Robinson passed away in April 1939 and Murray Robinson who had served the mandatory two year apprenticeship to earn his own embalming licence, took over the family business. Two years later, he married Lucille and between them they operated the tWo busiestet. h In 1942, when he became clerk of Whitby Township, he closed up the furniture business but continued on as a funeral director. Shortly after taking over responsibilities as Whitby Township clerk, Mr. Robin- son joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, leaving his mother, sister and a colleague from Port Perry to operate his business.- After training in Ontario and New Brunswick, Flying Officer Robin- son flew coastal patrols off Nova Scotia, then was transferred to* perry command as a first class navigator. Taking off from Dorval Quebec, Mr. Robinson was part of a team that ferried bombers and other assorted aircraft to Prest- wick, Scotland, refueling at Goose Bay, Labrador, Greenland and Iceland. he returned back to Canada via either troop ship or transport plane. With VE Day, he returned to Brooklin and to his duel jobs. In 1965, he left his position as clerk to become secretary-treasurer of the Township School area of Whitby. Three years later, the Town of Whitby and Whitby Township amalgamated into the present Whitby and a year later a county- wide school system was established. Mr. Robinson was faced with a choice either stay full- time with the new school board, or become a full-time funeral direc- tor. He closed his funeral business (which was later purchased by Bob Carson) and hired on full-time with the Ontario County Board of' The ' 25th anniversary of the United Church Women was held on Tuesday evening, April 7 with ap- proximately 40 ladies in attendan- ce. A delicious potluck dinner was enjoyed. Head table guests in- cluded Anna Patterson from Cobourg; Heather McCrae and Helen Alves, Port Perry; Ethel Miller, Gloria Jackson, Bessie Cosway, Evelyn Wilson, Verna Hodson and Eunice Stocks. Education. In 1974 Durham Region was for- med and Mr. Robinson renamed on as administrative assistant to the board's business director. He retired in 1982. Lucille, the payroll superinten- dent with the old Whitby Board of Education, also made the move to the new Durham Board where she continued tO work in the payroll department until her retirement in 1981. The Robinsons enjoyed their retirement years finding time for golf, their garden and travelling. They will be missed by the residents of the Brooklin area. The couple are survived by a daughter Mary Lou (Mrs. Gordon Kumagai) of Toronto, son John and his wife Judy of Oshawa, and gran- dchildren Geoffrey, Jesse and Dana Leigh. Murray is mourned by sisters Ruth, Jean and Grace Robinson of Brooklin. Lucille by brothers Charles and Kenneth Hicks, Evelyn Jacobson, Floyd and Lloyd MeNea, Elaine Edmunds and the late Melvin MeNea. accompanied by Patti Scott at the piano. A skit entitled 'A Look Back' was performed by Pat Jackson, Marion Young, Cathy Ferguson, Evelyn Dennis, Betty Hamm and featured highlights of UCW activities over the past 25 years. THE CUTEST skunk you ever did see? Behind all the theatrical garb is Mike Batty of Brooklin, one of the many Meadowcrest Public School students who took part in the primary production of Bambi last week. Free Press photo UCW holcs 2'5th

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy