Keith Vail "Robbie" Robbins

29 September 1919 - 12 March 2009

Keith Vail "Robbie" Robbins, 89, of Jennings, LA died at 3:45 AM on Thursday, March 12, 2009 in a local care facility.

Keith "Robbie" Robbins

Mr. Robbins was born September 29, 1919 in Lima, OH. He served his country as a medic in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Base at the Flight Surgeon Office and was also stationed at Monkey Island, LA, where he was part of the crash boat and air sea rescue. He worked for Continental Oil Company for 4-5 years as a machinist and at ARAMCO from 1955 to 1967 as a foreman in Saudi Arabia. In 1967 he retired and moved back to Lake Charles. In 1970 he moved to Venezuela with Creole Petroleum, a division of Standard Oil, until 1972. Mr. Robbins worked as a crossing guard with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, from 1991 to 1999, retiring for health reasons at the age of 80.

He enjoyed playing Santa and wherever he lived, from Westlake, Saudi Arabia, Utah, Venezuela, to Lake Charles, he played Santa, delighting children all over the world. While living in Utah, kids would bring their broken bikes to him to fix. Children loved to be around him and dogs loved to follow him. He was a member of First Christian Church and a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He was also a Master Mason and a member of the Masonic Lodge at St. Andrews in Scotland, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, 32nd Degree Mason, and a Knights Templar and was a former member of the American Legion W.B. Williamson Post #1 in Lake Charles. Mr. Robbins will always be remembered as a kind, gentle, loving, caring, and supportive man.

He is survived by his daughter, Keitha Frances Robbins; son, Kenneth Robbins and wife Jeannie; and three grandchildren. Mr. Robbins was preceded in death by his wife of fifty years, Frances "Puddin" Robbins.

A viewing will take place on Monday, March 16, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Johnson's Funeral Home (4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605), with a Masonic Service at 6:30 p.m. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Bishop Aaron Young will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. For more information, visit Johnson Funeral Home. You can also read a lovey tribute written by Diana Ryrholm-Geerdes: Remembering Robbie Robbins.

Contact:
Keitha Robbins
222 Beauregard St.
Lake Charles, LA 70605