Cleo H Robins

Cleo Robins, 93, and a 60 year Wenatchee resident, passed away on May 2, 2012 at Central Washington Hospital. Cleo was born on October 16, 1918 to Grover and Sarah (Gifford) Robins in Oxford, Arkansas. He was raised on the family farm and started working at the age of 7 in the garden; which they sold the produce alongside eggs, milk and cattle. He attended Kingdom School, which consisted of two rooms; he graduated in 1937 along with 11 other students. On June 11, 1942 Cleo received a letter from the Army notifying him that he had been drafted. He reported for Boot Camp at Camp Rooker in Alabama and attended Maneuver Training in Tennessee. He served with the 906th Field Artillery Battalion in United & Pacific Theatre, and supported the 81st Infantry Division. In 1944 he was deployed from California to Hawaii and from there to Philippines to fight the Japanese in WWII. After a little more than a year they were sent orders to go to Japan and await further orders to go ashore, but the Japanese surrendered. He has honorably discharged in the winter of 1945. He then worked for his father as a carpenter until entering Barbering College in 1946. March 1946 he married the love of his life, Nova Lee and they welcomed their son, Charles "Edd" in November. Together they moved to Melbourne Arkansas, and Cleo cut hair at Ralph's Barber Shop, in the spring of 1951 they moved to Wenatchee. They both found employment in the agriculture industry; Cleo would cut hair during the week at the Wenatchee Columbia Hotel for Dick Mahan, and on weekends he worked in the orchards. Cleo went to work for Ray Richardson, in his Barber Shop and eventually he purchased the barber shop from him, located on Mission Street. Cleo continued to cut hair until his retirement age of 82. In 1953 Cleo started bowling; he participated on three different teams and served as President for the Wenatchee Bowling Association. In 1970 he took up golfing and made many new friends on the course. Cleo leaves behind his son; Charles "Edd" Robins, Wenatchee, five grandchildren; Kerri Sheehan, Edmonds, WA, Betsy (Shane) Dillard, Wenatchee, Charles Joseph "Joe" (Bethany) Robins, Wenatchee, Dylan "Cody" Robins, Wenatchee, WA, Samuel "Luke" Robins, Tacoma, WA and three great grandchildren; Taylor Nichole Dillard-Henderson, Wenatchee, Andrew "Kels" Sheehan, Edmonds, Coen Darrell Dillard, Wenatchee. He is preceded by wife, Nova (January 2012) and four sisters, Edith Blevins, Thelma Gilstrap, Wanda Robins, Vivian Roddy and brother, Robert Dyer "RD" Robins. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th, 3pm at the First Church of Nazarene, 1011 S. Miller, Wenatchee. Online condolences and memories can be left for his family at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee, WA.

Cleo H Robins

October 16, 1918 - May 2, 2012