Robert N. "Bobby" Robinson Sr.
Marriages
Marguerite Dunkley - August 5, 1934
Married 62 years
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot page A3 - April 8, 2001
Robert N. "Bobby" Robinson was born Feb. 5, 1910, just south of Hayden to James and Lois (Locke) Robinson and passed away March 27, 2001, in Steamboat Springs. He was 91. The family lived in and around Hayden until his mother died when he was 4. Bobby, his dad, brother and sister homesteaded on Elkhead at Cottonwood Creek. The first year the Rock School House opened Bobby started first grade. He attended schools at Elkhead and Hayden.
On August 5, 1934, Bobby married Marguerite S. Dunkley at the Congregational Church in Hayden. They were married 62 years.
Bobby started Robinson Construction with one D4 Cat in 1945. Bobby worked long, hard hours, but always found time to help those who needed help.
All of his customers became close friends. Bobby hired many young men from this area and many became the best "dirt stiffs" in the industry.
Bobby always referred to them as "his" kids. Bobby always shared his knowledge and strived to teach work skills, and more importantly morals, in both work and personal relations.
Bobby was very active in the community, serving on the Hayden City Council, the Solandt Hospital Board, the Routt County Fair Board and the Babson Carpenter Board.
He was one of the founders of the Yampa Valley State Bank and has been on that board since its inception and was the chairman when the bank was recently sold.
Bobby was a member of the Hayden Masonic Lodge, The Consistory and was very active in the El Jebel Shrine. He will be remembered for the Shrine barbeques with slew water and Dutch oven biscuits, which he did each year on Colorado Days to raise money for the Shrine Hospital for Children.
To sum up Bobby's life is an excerpt from Louis L'Amour's "A Trail of Memories":
"That was how I would remember my father. There was never a place he walked that was not the better for his having passed. For every tree he cut down, he planted two."
Everyone will remember him for his many antique cars that can be seen in the parades each year, and his hand forged spurs cherished by many proud recipients in the area.
He is survived by a daughter, Lois Monroe and husband Larry of Greeley; a son, Robert N. Robinson Jr. of Hayden; four grandchildren; Alice Carrol; Dallas Robinson; Alena Scott; Robert Monroe; seven great-grandchildren; Brandon, Britny, Brianna, Bradon, Abie, Brennan, and Bryson; and a sister, Jane Hernandez of Yakima, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James; and his wife, Marguerite, in May 1997.
A service was at 10 a.m. March 31, 2001, at the Hayden High School Auditorium. Doug Zirkle was the officiating clergy. Internment was at the Hayden Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital in care of First National Bank of the Rockies, Box 700, Hayden, 81639.
