Carroll Neuman Robinson, son of the late Neuman Lee Robinson and Myrtie Elizabeth Patterson Robinson, was born on August 21, 1932, near Bloomfield, Missouri, and departed this life on March 11, 2024, at the age of 91 years.
Caroll accepted Christ at an early age and remained a member of West Pleasant Valley Church in Bloomfield all his life. After graduating high school and briefly working on the family farm, Carroll joined the United States Air Force in 1952 and proudly served for four years, as a Radar and Electronics Instructor. On October 4, 1954, he married the love of his life, Patsy Gillespie. He and Patsy lived in California until he left the Air Force in 1956, when they returned to Missouri. Carroll went to work for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation as an Electronics Tech Rep, working on the Demon F3 and Phantom II F4 fighter jets.
McDonnell Douglas moved the family many times, first to southern California, where Carroll worked with the U.S. Navy. He also spent six months in Thailand working with the Air Force. The family then lived in Virginia for a year before moving to England for three years where he worked closely with the British Royal Navy. After returning briefly to San Diego in 1971, Carroll and Pat decided to move home to Missouri. They purchased the Western Auto store in Dexter, which they operated for over eleven years. During that time, Carroll was a member of the Dexter Rotary Club. After selling the store, Carroll worked at the Daily Statesman and was their lead pressman in Kennett, Missouri for several years before retiring at 62. Over the next 25 years, he and Pat traveled extensively in their RVs, and enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren around the country.
Carroll was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2020, but refused to let the disease and dialysis rule his life, gardening and remaining as active as possible until very recently.
Carroll is survived by his wife of 69 years and a large family: two sons, Jerry (Melinda) Robinson of Lebanon, Ohio, and Kenny (Dawn) Robinson of Hope Mills, North Carolina; by two daughters, Audrey (Dean) Swearingen of Dexter, Missouri; and Sharon (Rodger) Cox of Bloomfield, Missouri; by thirteen grandchildren: Sara (Andy) Clinch of Seattle, Washington; Mary (Michael) Sofferin of Olathe, Kansas; Lisa (Joe) Lombardo of Olathe, Kansas; Grace Robinson of Nashville, Tennessee; Robyn (Lance) Hardin of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Matthew Swearingen of Denton, Texas; Jacob (Jodi) Cox of Wichita, Kansas; Elizabeth Cox of Bloomfield, Missouri; Madison (Brandon) Siler of Bloomfield, Missouri; Garrett Cox of Hannibal, Missouri; Heath (Heather) Cox of San Antonio, Texas; Zachary (Jasmine) Robinson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and Alex (Kasey) Robinson of Clayton, North Carolina; and by seventeen great grandchildren: Elsa and Myles Clinch; Patrick and Declan Sofferin; Jack, Eddie, and Cece Lombardo; Myla, Ava, Nora and Judah Hardin; Adelyn and Olivia Cox; Henry, McKenna and Brady Cox; and Liam Robinson.
Other than by his parents, Carroll was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sandra Faye, by two sisters, and by five brothers.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Neil Durner officiating. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
The family requests memorials may be made to the American Kidney Fund (kidneyfund.org) or the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).
