Charles Clark Robinson's Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Clark Robinson, USAF (Retired)
LT Col Charles Clark Robinson, 92, U.S. Air Force (Retired), of Leesburg, Virginia died peacefully at home on October 23, 2010 surrounded by his family after a long battle with MDS. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on February 15, 1918 to the late Charles Clifford and Frances Fitzgerald Robinson. He attended Fordham University where he was excelled in many sports and was one of the founders of its fencing club. After graduating in 1938, he worked in the Philippines as a chemist and evacuated back to the States on one of the last ships out of Manila just hours prior to the bombing by the Japanese.
LT Col Robinson enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in New Guinea and the Philippines. He transferred to the U.S. Air Force upon its establishment in 1947, where he served as an Intelligence Staff Officer during the Korean War, at NORAD in Colorado and various air bases in Europe and Africa. The highlight of his career was his tour in Vietnam when he was Chief of the Intelligence Branch at the MACV-SOG for which he received the Bronze Star. His final military assignment, before his retirement in 1969, was as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Chief of the Africa Branch at the Pentagon.
In civilian life, Lt Col Robinson taught Industrial Arts and Science at Edgar Allen Poe Intermediate School in Annandale Virginia after completing his Masters at American University and Old Dominion University. He was active in the Republican Party in Virginia and was invited to the 1981 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. Upon retiring again, he was involved in church activities and traveled extensively. He was an accomplished artist, woodworker and musician. He read extensively and had a variety of interests including archeology, astronomy, military history, genealogy, crossword puzzles, science and classical music. He was also an avid Notre Dame football fan and enjoyed the latest electronic gadgets. His quick wit, notorious sense of humor and his smile made him loved by family and friends, and will be greatly missed. He was both an officer and a gentleman to the end.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years - Ann Margaret Grimmelmann Robinson, his brother Gerald Robinson, his sister Virginia Rickenbach and his grandson Brian Dodd. He is survived by his daughters Ann Frances Dodd (Calvin) of Wilmington, NC, Jean Virginia Corliss (Donald) of Saranac Lake, NY, Patricia “Scottie” and Elizabeth Ann of Purcellville, VA. He also leaves his grandchildren: Robert and Ann Margaret Dodd, Todd and Devin Corliss, and 6 great-grandchildren.
He will be buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery on April 29, 2011 after a memorial Mass at Fort Myers Chapel in Virginia.
What’s your fondest memory of Charles Clark ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Charles Clark ?
Share a story where Charles Clark 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Charles Clark you’ll never forget.
How did Charles Clark make you smile?