ROBINSON, Alfred 'Tim'

The Record-Courier 17 Jan 2013 Baker City lost an incredible man this past Sunday. Alfred “Tim” Robinson, passed away surrounded by his beloved “girls” at St. Alphonsus hospital in Baker City on the 13th of January, 2013 due to complications from pneumonia. Tim was born into this world by Gladys Louise (Brainard) Robinson and Clyde Arthur Robinson on the 22nd of May, 1933. He grew up running wild in the deserts of Boardman where he was forced into education by his parents for fear of worse things. He finished High School there in Boardman before his patriotic sense and yearning for travel would overcome and he enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1953. Tim traveled to Japan and spent over a year there before returning to his stateside post in New York where he finished out his enlistment. On June 7, 1958, just nine months after his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Tim was married to Delma Graven in Fossil, Ore. Delma had quickly become the focus of Tim’s life and together, they had three absolutely gorgeous daughters. Tim and Delma spent 53 years together at their home in Baker City and throughout, Tim would continue to focus on his girls and redefine how a true, patient and loving husband and father should be. Tim would go on to prove to be the proudest husband and father that Baker City has ever witnessed. Tim was patient, kind, methodical and thorough in his every endeavor. This proved to be an incredible asset when he and Delma decided to open the 3rd and Dewey market in 1962. For 35 years they would operate this little market with incredible success. The girls still complain about “stocking the shelves” to this very day. It is impossible to put a value to the amount of lives that Tim touched each day while operating this little market. His kind and caring ways will always be remembered by the many people who frequented the market. In 1997, Tim and Delma decided to retire and sell the market. Having grandchildren to focus on, Tim began to focus on spending time coordinating grandpa’s daycare and building many wooden objects for Delma and the girls to paint or sell at their craft sales. He could make anything, no doubt. Truly, if he could see it with his eyes and inspect it, then he could build it. Many, many hours he spent in his wood shop, accompanied by his grandson in their matching jackets that were so cool, building things here and there while solving all the world’s problems. Tim also liked to spend time down at the Elks lodge calling Bingo and was an active member for many years. There were many friendships that begun while he was a participant with the Elks and he treasured every one of them. As witness to his patience, Tim loved to golf. When he could find a free hour or two, he would pick up one of his girls and let them drive him around the golf course in his private cart. He loved his ability to amble up onto the green and shoot for par or throw back a solid drive. When you look up “patience” in the dictionary, you will find Tim’s name as the perfect example for it. He had so much patience and love in him that it is unlikely anyone else in this world was built by the same mold. Truly, he was never angered. It just wasn’t in his nature. Tim was a true role model that many people were fortunate enough to know and share time with. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Bill and sisters Evelyn and Martha. Tim is survived by his wife Delma, daughter Lori Ellis and her husband Stan of Baker City, daughter Gail Blake and partner Randy Warner of Wheelersburg Ohio, and daughter Traci Thamert and her husband Jeremy of Baker City. Tim also had five grandchildren; Tarah Ellis of Bend, Oregon, Tyler Ferguson of Baker City, Trace, Gage and Taylor Thamert all of Baker City. Finally, Tim has one surviving brother, Arthur Robinson and his wife Evelyn of Pendleton as well as Sister-in-law Dorothy Robinson of Powell Butte, Oregon. Those who wish to make a memorial donation in memory of Tim may do so to New Hope for Eastern Oregon – Powder Pals Program for Animals through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834.