Lester Robins

Lester Ray Robins went home to be with the Lord Monday, Jan. 9, 2017.
He was born Oct. 13, 1919, near Stigler to Duell Robins and Eva Arnold Robins. Lester or “Red” as he was known in his youth, resided with his parents in the same area and graduated from Stigler High School in 1937.
He met his wife-to-be, Laura Harmon, while working behind the soda bar in a drug store in Stigler. They were married on May 29, 1939, in Muskogee. They were lifelong sweethearts and were married for 73 years.
Lester grew up during the Great Depression and lost his Dad in a car accident as a teenager. He, his sister and mother moved from the family farm into Stigler where Lester quickly learned the value of hard work to help provide for the family.
He did all sorts of jobs as a youth, including working in a movie theatre, as a clerk in a drug store, service station attendant and picking cotton.
He also liked to tell a story about how learning to type in high school was instrumental to him getting his first job with DuPont in Oklahoma City and to landing a clerical position during the war.
Lester served in the Army infantry during World War II in Europe and was honorably discharged from the Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 179th Infantry in January 1946 as a sergeant. In his later years, he would tell stories about what it was like being in Germany after the war had ended.
He moved with Laura and their first child to Orange in 1946 and went back to work for DuPont, this time at the Sabine River Works. It was in Orange that Lester and Laura chose to raise their family.
He worked at the facility continuously in various roles until his retirement in 1981 from his position as Supervisor, Construction Receiving & Stores.
Lester and Laura continued to live in Orange throughout retirement, residing in the same house for more than 55 years. His joy in life was his love for his wife and children. He was steadfast in his commitment to care and provide for Laura and was a role model to his children as a father. He was never absent when any member of the family had a need and sacrificed his needs for theirs throughout his life. Like most of those in his generation, Lester valued hard work and self-reliance. He seemed to know a little about anything mechanical and was constantly doing projects around the home. He took great pride in his family and his love for his children and grandchildren was obvious to all.
Lester was a member of First Baptist Church of Orange and was a faithful attender until his health precluded him from doing so. In his last years, he enjoyed worshiping on Sunday morning with church services available on television.
Those left to cherish his memory includes, “No. 1 son” Donald Ray Robins, his wife Shirley Colvin Robins of Bridge City; “No. 2 son” Joel H. Robins and wife Sue of Friendswood; and daughter Becky Robins Smith and husband Mason of Orange. Additional survivors are, grandchildren Janie Harris and husband Joel, Taylor (Ty) Robins and wife Sarah, and Angela Delk and husband, Joe; plus great-grandchildren John and Katie Harris, and Jay and Bailey Delk. Also surviving are brothers-in-law Robert Harmon of Bakersfield, Calif., and Kenneth Harmon of Keota.
Lester was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Laura; his parents; his sister, Marie Robins Harmon; and granddaughter, Laura Robins.
Services were held Jan. 14 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, and officiated by the Rev. Barry Bradley, pastor of First Baptist Church Orange. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City.
The family wishes to thank his special caretakers, Sharon Powell and Britney LeBlanc, for their loving care the last years of his life. They also want to thank the staff of The Meadows for their care and support.