Bernard Anthony Robinson, 91, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
He was born on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 1920, in Terre Haute, Ind., the fifth son of Robert and Elizabeth Robinson, and spent his childhood in Indiana, Florida and Illinois, graduating from Parker High School, Chicago, in 1938. As a child, he liked to make and fly kites - a hobby he also enjoyed with his grandchildren. While in grade school he had his photo with his kites in the Chicago Tribune.
Bernie participated in civilian pilot training in Chicago where he received his private pilot license in 1942. He then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew gliders before being transferred to Aviation Cadets, graduating in the Class of 43-J at Lubbock, Texas. After advanced pilot training, Bernie went on to teach instrument flying during World War II. He often remarked that he was lucky to fly the largest plane in existence at the time - the B-29. He was the commander of the Air Force Reserve unit in Kalispell, obtaining the rank of major.
On Nov. 8, 1943, he married Dorothy Black. They were married nearly 68 years at the time of his death. After the war, they settled in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park. Vacationing in 1948 to visit Air Force friends in the Flathead Valley, they decided to leave the Windy City, moving to Lakeside in 1949. He worked for StanCraft Boats in Somers for three years.
Bernie and Dorothy moved to Kalispell in 1952 and have resided here since. Bernie was a meat cutter at B&B (now Smith's), Sykes', and Safeway before deciding to become a journeyman carpenter. Local projects he worked on included Hungry Horse Dam, the Polson Bridge and St. Matthew's Catholic School. He said he was the last carpenter on the job when the school was completed. He became the business agent for the Carpenters Union Local 911, serving in that capacity for 13 years until his retirement.
After retirement, he enjoyed his extensive woodworking shop, making many craft items he enjoyed displaying and selling at the Kalispell Farmers Market for many years.
Mr. Robinson was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, at the family home; three daughters, Peggy Morrison and John of Lakewood, Colo., Barbara Lohn and Jim of Renton, Wash., and Toni Powell and Gordon of Kalispell; one son, Chuck Robinson, of Nashville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; six brothers; and daughter-in-law, Jane Robinson.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Rosary for Mr. Robinson will be recited there at 7 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Rod Ermatinger as celebrant. Burial will be in C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of Greenwood Village, the Kalispell Dialysis Clinic and the physicians with the Veterans Administration for their care of Mr. Robinson. Thanks also to the cooks at Greenwood Village for arriving early to fix Bernie's breakfast before dialysis.
The family requests memorials be made to St. Matthew's Catholic School or the charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bernard Robinson, please visit our flower store.
He was born on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 1920, in Terre Haute, Ind., the fifth son of Robert and Elizabeth Robinson, and spent his childhood in Indiana, Florida and Illinois, graduating from Parker High School, Chicago, in 1938. As a child, he liked to make and fly kites - a hobby he also enjoyed with his grandchildren. While in grade school he had his photo with his kites in the Chicago Tribune.
Bernie participated in civilian pilot training in Chicago where he received his private pilot license in 1942. He then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew gliders before being transferred to Aviation Cadets, graduating in the Class of 43-J at Lubbock, Texas. After advanced pilot training, Bernie went on to teach instrument flying during World War II. He often remarked that he was lucky to fly the largest plane in existence at the time - the B-29. He was the commander of the Air Force Reserve unit in Kalispell, obtaining the rank of major.
On Nov. 8, 1943, he married Dorothy Black. They were married nearly 68 years at the time of his death. After the war, they settled in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park. Vacationing in 1948 to visit Air Force friends in the Flathead Valley, they decided to leave the Windy City, moving to Lakeside in 1949. He worked for StanCraft Boats in Somers for three years.
Bernie and Dorothy moved to Kalispell in 1952 and have resided here since. Bernie was a meat cutter at B&B (now Smith's), Sykes', and Safeway before deciding to become a journeyman carpenter. Local projects he worked on included Hungry Horse Dam, the Polson Bridge and St. Matthew's Catholic School. He said he was the last carpenter on the job when the school was completed. He became the business agent for the Carpenters Union Local 911, serving in that capacity for 13 years until his retirement.
After retirement, he enjoyed his extensive woodworking shop, making many craft items he enjoyed displaying and selling at the Kalispell Farmers Market for many years.
Mr. Robinson was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, at the family home; three daughters, Peggy Morrison and John of Lakewood, Colo., Barbara Lohn and Jim of Renton, Wash., and Toni Powell and Gordon of Kalispell; one son, Chuck Robinson, of Nashville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; six brothers; and daughter-in-law, Jane Robinson.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Rosary for Mr. Robinson will be recited there at 7 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Rod Ermatinger as celebrant. Burial will be in C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff of Greenwood Village, the Kalispell Dialysis Clinic and the physicians with the Veterans Administration for their care of Mr. Robinson. Thanks also to the cooks at Greenwood Village for arriving early to fix Bernie's breakfast before dialysis.
The family requests memorials be made to St. Matthew's Catholic School or the charity of your choice.