Wilson Russell "Bill" Robinson's Obituary
Wilson “Bill” Russell Robinson passed away peacefully October 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Washington. Born September 22, 1924 in Tacoma, WA to Lawrence and Mildred Robinson, he was the eldest of three children. Bill served in World War II from 1943 to 1945 as a merchant marine. In 1945 his sister Lois introduced him to her co-worker, Betty Young. He proposed to Betty a month after their first date. They were married August 20, 1948 in Seattle, WA. Together they raised three daughters; Gail Robinson, Janis Jacobson, Lyn Robinson (John Crispin). Bill started out as a lather, and in 1955 joined the Seattle Fire Department. During his time as a firefighter he became increasingly frustrated, feeling inadequate during aid calls, because many of the people whom he was sent to aid ultimately died due to untimely medical attention. Because of Bill’s gift for gab Seattle Fire Department Chief Gordon Vickery introduced Bill to Harborview Cardiologist Dr. Leonard Cobb to discuss ideas to train firefighters to help heart attack victims. Together they came up with the idea for Medic One, and soon after other states followed their template for paramedic training of firefighters. Bill later became Lieutenant of the Seattle Fire Department Headquarters, retiring in 1974. After, he built a 45 foot Ferro cement fishing boat, The Zenith. From 1976 to 1988 Bill was a commercial salmon fisherman, with Betty by his side. Bill was a talented builder, constructing his family’s home on Beacon Hill where he and his wife raised their three girls, and at the age of 66 fully remodeled his daughter Lyn’s home. He was an accomplished golfer, and hunted pheasant in Eastern Washington with his Britney Spaniel, Gus. He loved to pick wild mountain blackberries, and dig clams. He was spontaneous and loved to announce, “Let’s go to the beach!”, and expected the camper to be ready in the blink of an eye. Bill and Betty spent their retirement living between Lacey, WA and Mesa, AZ. They were hardly sedentary, traveling to Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. They also traveled around the country in their Airstream trailer. However, their traveling days were cut short in September 2005 when they were involved in a serious train accident in Chicago, Illinois. They spent a month in separate hospitals within Chicago; the longest time spent apart in their 57 years of marriage. After returning to Seattle, Betty & Bill spent many months in physical therapy and eventually moved to Judson Park Retirement Community in Des Moines, WA to be closer to their daughters, Lyn and Janis. He was grandfather to Betty Adams (Thomas), Michael Warren Pietzke (Elizabeth), Jennifer Suire (Alan), Mike Jacobson (Liz Johnson), Bryce Jacobson (Amanda), Rachel Casillas (David); great-grandfather to Thomas Adams Jr. (Julianna), McKenzie Adams, Zachary Adams, Bria Pietzke, Annika Pietzke, Abby Pietzke, Imajin Pietzke, David L. Casillas, Roman Casillas, Nora Casillas, Beau Jacobson & Emil Jacobson. He had one great-great-granddaughter, Ryli Adams. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Betty Robinson (2014), sister Dickie Dunmire in January 2016, and sister Lois Delo in 2005.
Services to remember Bill’s dedicated and loving spirit will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 28, 2016 in the Garden Chapel. A reception gathering will immediately follow in the Celebration of Life Center Oak Room at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
Please share your memories of Bill and condolences to the family by visiting the tribute wall.
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