IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Randolph Robinson
Services for longtime Peabody resident Randolph Burdette Robinson, who at age 92 departed this world for heaven June 29 at his home in Wichita, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Wichita.
Inurnment will follow at 2 p.m. at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody.
Randy was born Oct. 27, 1928, at the Stork’s Nest in Peabody, to Walter and Ruth (Townsend) Robinson.
Raised on a farm northeast of Peabody, he was the second of three children. He loved growing up on the farm and rode a horse to a one-room country school.
Randy graduated from Peabody High School in 1946 and then entered Kansas State Teachers College, achieving a B.A. degree in mathematics and physics four years later.
On May 31, 1950, Randy married Betty Joyce Beeton.
Randy and Betty were first attracted to each other when they shared a study hall in high school.
During their first six years of marriage they lived on a farm northeast of Peabody, adjoining Randy’s parents’ farm. While on the farm, they brought three children into the world: Steven, Joyce, and Scott.
Two and a half years of drought made it difficult to make a living farming, so Randy decided to look elsewhere for employment and was hired at Beech Aircraft Co. in Wichita as a weight control engineer.
He stayed with the company for 40 years and commuted every weekday between Peabody and Wichita. He and Betty moved from the farm to town in 1956.
In 1961, Randy took on an additional profession as an independent insurance agent and real estate agent when he became owner of American Investment Co. in Peabody.
He worked many evenings and Saturdays “downtown at the office” and became well known and liked by many local residents, farmers, and businesses.
He sold the company in 1972. At the end of his successful career at Beech, Randy retired in 1992 as an engineering manager and Federal Aviation Administration Liaison.
He later served as a consultant with his brother, Richard, to fixed base operations in the area of aircraft lightning protection.
In his younger years, Randy enjoyed many hobbies, including hunting, fishing, golf, and gardening (vegetables and peonies).
When his sons were Boy Scouts in Peabody Troop 108, he volunteered many weekends as a leader and mentor.
He loved taking his family on annual summer vacation camping trips with his travel trailer to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
As a member of the Beech Flying Club, Randy attained his private pilot license in 1982. In his later years, he and Betty enjoyed many trips to their vacation home in the Missouri Ozarks, where family and friends joined them to make many wonderful memories.
Randy also was a member of Peabody Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge and Shriners, and Beech Toastmasters Club.
Randy and Betty were members of Peabody United Methodist Church until they moved to Wichita in 1997.
Randy was active in the church as a Sunday school teacher, board member, lay leader, and choir member. He and Betty joined Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita in 1998 and have been members ever since.
Randy’s daughter, Joyce, married a New Zealander in 1973, moved there and lived on a sheep farm for 25 years.
During this time, Randy and Betty were able to visit Joyce and her family many times and enjoyed traveling throughout New Zealand.
After Randy retired, they even moved a small house onto the sheep farm and lived there several months out of each year, getting to enjoy their New Zealand grandchildren.
Randy was a loving and generous father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren especially loved his sense of humor.
Family was so important to him. He was a wonderful Christian example for all to follow.
Randy lived his faith and was selflessly devoted to his family, his friends and his life in Christ.
His wife, Betty, was the love of his life for more than 69 years. He will be greatly missed by his many family members and friends.
Randy was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, in November 2019; his parents, Walter and Ruth; an older brother, Richard; his younger sister, Judith Wood; and grandson Travis Larsen.
Survivors include brother-in-law Raymond (and wife Ann) Beeton of Cleveland, Missouri, and son Steve Robinson, and daughter Joyce (and husband Bruce) Larsen, and son Scott (and wife Ann) Robinson, all of Wichita.
Surviving grandchildren include Paul Robinson and Emily (and husband Alex) McCreight, Wichita; Lori Gore, Eureka; Amy Gillespie, Augusta; Steven (and wife Amanda) Gillespie, Cromwell, New Zealand; Jenna (and husband David) Cantrell, Wichita; Eric Vaughn, Auburn; Nick (and wife Latasha) Harder, Winfield; Sarah (and husband Carl) Hebert of Wichita; and Adam (and wife Vita Nova) Robinson of Philadelphia.
He also is survived by 17 great-grandchildren: Elena McCreight; Alyssa, Makyla, Matthew and Kendall Gore; Ashley Unrein; Nathan, Ana, and Tia Gillespie; Joseph Le and Alexiana Cantrell; Aaron, Cameron and Elizabeth Harder; Grace, Ethan and Landon Hebert; and his extended family and caregivers, who will always love and remember him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N Webb Rd, Wichita KS 67206 or for playground equipment at the Peabody Park. Make checks to “City of Peabody” and in the memo line add PH4HP (Peabody Hearts for Hart Park). Mail to City of Peabody, 300 N Walnut, Peabody KS 66866.
Share condolences and view extended obituary at www.cozine.com.
Services by Cozine Memorial Group-Broadway Mortuary.