John Byron Robinson

John Byron Robinson April 24, 1920 – Jan. 31, 2016 FOLEY — Longtime Foley resident John Byron Robinson, 95, died Sunday at Brighton Gardens assisted living center in Dunwoody, Ga., where he made his home since 2012. His wife, Martha Louene (Haynes) Robinson, died in January 2011 after a long battle with cancer. The Robinsons lived on West Camphor Avenue in Foley until Martha’s passing. John and Martha were active in the life of First Presbyterian Church of Foley since 1948. Both sang in the choir, and all four of their children were baptized and raised in the church. John served as an elder and deacon, and was involved in the Presbyterian men’s organization. He served as an officer in the Foley Parent-Teacher Association. He was an active member of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. His name was actually one of his own choosing. His given name was J.B., just the initials. Later, when entering the U.S. Army, he was told he needed to have a first and middle name for the records. He wanted to keep the same initials, so he picked John after his favorite uncle and Byron because he had a book of poems by Lord Byron and liked the name. His parents and other family members always called him J.B., and his brothers sometimes called him “Jack.” He served in an Army construction battalion from 1944 to 1946. He was stationed in Korea. John was a friendly, kind, intelligent Christian gentleman who treated everyone he met with respect and courtesy. He genuinely cared about helping others and was what some might consider generous to a fault. John was one of seven children born to Clayton Clay and Glenna Mae (Bidlack) Robinson. He grew up on the family farm in Radnor, Ohio, and lived in Columbus during his early adulthood. He attended Ohio State University, where he met Martha. They were married on Dec. 28, 1947, and moved to Foley the next year. John farmed, was in the seed-corn and real estate businesses with his father and brother Dale in Baldwin County, and then became an inventor, product manufacturer and business operator in Summerdale and Foley. He awakened early, worked hard and kept at it each day until he was nearly 90 years old and had some mobility issues. He never amassed financial wealth but was rich in love and faith. His best-known products — a burger press for molding meat patties, a hand-held tool for picking up nuts, and a livestock-watering fountain designed to make sure cattle, horses and hogs had fresh water with every drink — were shipped across the nation for several decades. The family includes a son, Steven Robinson (Dianne) of Vinings, Ga.; daughters, Cynthia Robinson of Foley, Linda Garner (Rob) of Snellville, Ga., and Mary McNair (Greg) of Foley; a brother, Clayton Clay Robinson Jr. (Julie) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; grandchildren, Joy Roark (Dan) of Woodstock, Ga., Adam Garner (Andrea) of Lilburn, Ga., Josh Robinson (Susan) of Vinings, Ga., Philip Garner (Cynthia) of Suwanee, Ga., and Andrea Moore (Brett) of San Antonio, Texas. There are nine great-grandchildren, Kyla, Meira and Amos Robinson; Abigail and Aron Garner; Avery, Gavin and Isaac Moore; and Price Roark. He was preceded in death by brothers Russell, Cecil, Dale and Robert and sister Mary (Robinson) Long. A celebration of John’s life and the Resurrection will be Saturday, Feb. 6, at First Presbyterian Church, 195 E. Berry Ave., Foley. Visitation will be from noon to 1:15 p.m., with a memorial service at 1:30, followed by a reception. The Revs. Samford Turner and Julian Walthall, former pastors of the church, will officiate. Private burial will be in Pine Rest Memorial Park, Foley. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to one of the following charities: Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch (Summerdale), Samaritan’s Purse or Doctors Without Borders

John Byron Robinson

April 24, 1920 - January 31, 2016