Fred Allen Robison
Herald and News 1/9/09
After
only 19 days of separation, Fred Allen Robison
rejoined his sweetheart of 64 years. He died in his
home of natural causes on Jan. 3, 2009, with his
family at his side.
Fred was born to Wade T. Robison and Gladys Gretna Fox in Whittier, Calif., on Oct. 25, 1922.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. at Tulelake Presbyterian Church, Second Street, with David Misso officiating. A reception will follow at The Honker next to Tulelake High School.
Fred grew up in La Habra, Calif., on his parents’ orange ranch, where the main family entertainment was taking day trips to the beach. Independence and a strong work ethic characterized his life from an early age. As a youth, he planted a roadside garden of beans and artichokes — which he sold to passersby. As a teen, he worked at a Union 76 station, earning $2 for a 12-hour day. Fred was a lifeguard at Huntington Beach and San Dimas Reservoir. He bought his first car, a Model A coupe, for $80 from his cousin’s car dealership.
He won many awards on his high school swim team and was quarterback of the football team. At Fullerton Junior College, he was on the water polo team and in 1942 was declared Most Valuable Man on the Southern California championship team.
After graduation from college in 1942, Fred attended F.B.I. fingerprint school in Washington, D.C., until his enlistment in the Army Air Corps. While stationed in Santa Ana in February of 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Velma Blackburn, in the backyard of her parents’ home. He continued to serve in the Army Air Corps as a turret mechanic on bombers in the 376th Bomb Group until his discharge in 1946.
In December of 1946, Fred entered the public drawing for a homestead in Tulelake and was drawn 54th. He and Velma received two barracks from the relocation center, which they moved to their homestead, where they lived for two years without electricity or running water. Their first crop was planted in the spring of 1947. Fred and Velma overcame many obstacles in developing their farm over their 61 years of life together.
Fred’s main focus in life was providing for his family. He worked for himself and other farmers during the summer and worked at various spud sheds during the winter. He also served as a Modoc County deputy sheriff for a short time.
When Fred’s children joined 4-H, he became a swine project leader. He served for four years on the Tulelake school board and also held a position on the Stronghold/Newell Pest Abatement District Board.
Upon being introduced to Mexico by close friends, Fred fell in love with the tropical climate and fishing opportunities. For the next 21 years, he and Velma spent their winters in La Penita, sunning, fishing and enjoying making new friends. Spending quiet times with his sweetheart, children and grandchildren occupied his later years along with gardening and watching the wildlife that inhabited his farm.
Fred was preceded in death by his wife Velma Robison and his brother Albert John Robison.
He is survived by his sons Tom Robison (Karen) and Larry Robison (Becky) and daughter Nancy Bateman (Harvey); also by grandchildren Brian Robison (Amy), Amy Robison, Luke Robison (Angela), Sarah Robison, Drew Bateman (Jillian), Neal Bateman, Katie Griffin (Jared), Ryan Bateman, Kyle Bateman and five great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother-in-law Robert Blackburn (Patricia).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 306, Tulelake, CA 96134.