J. Wendell Robinson's Obituary
J. Wendell Robinson went to his heavenly home on Dec. 27, 2014, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on July 8, 1927, in Scranton, Arkansas, to John Henry and Lela Mildred Hendrix Robinson. He spent his childhood in Elk City Lytle,Texas, and Tulsa. He was baptized at Hillcrest Baptist Church and attended Lowell and Central High schools. He left home to work in the ship yards in California, and was drafted into the Army Air Corps at the end of World War II, serving in Boca Raton, FL, as a radar operator/instructor. Later, he worked at Chick Norton Buick and held various jobs in Alaska. After marrying Maudie Lee (Bea) Newton in 1955, they lived in Odessa, Texas, where he worked for Unit Rig. Wendell moved back to Tulsa to take at job as a stationary engineer at St. John Hospital, and was later hired in the first group of employees at St. Francis Hospital. He was St. Francis’ first 30-year employee, holding the position of Director of Building Services at the time of his retirement in 1990. He was named to the St. Francis Hall of Fame in 1999, in recognition for his contributions to the growth of the hospital from the days “before there was an actual building” to what it had become by the time he retired. He knew “every nook, cranny, hallway and mechanical system like the back of his hand,” according to former president and CEO William Weeks. In his spare time, Wendell raised Appaloosa ponies, became a 32nd Degree Mason, enjoyed playing golf, and was devoted to helping his family. He was preceded in death by his wife Bea and his parents John and Mildred. He is survived by his daughter Robin Alaback and husband Dan of Tulsa; grandsons Jeff Alaback and wife Paige and Luke Alaback, all of Tulsa, and grandson Tyler Alaback of Oklahoma City. Wendell was the eldest brother to surviving siblings Sally Jennings, Bud Robinson and wife Pearlie Mae, of Owasso; Faye Lang and husband Carl of Claremore; Tom Robinson and wife Beverly of Stigler, and Lee Robinson and wife Sandy of Tulsa. Visitation will be held at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, on Tues., Dec. 30, from noon to 8 p.m., with the family present to receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Private family services. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org or 1-800-708-7644.
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