Eugene Leonard Robinson

Eugene Leonard Robinson was born December 18,1947, in Columbia, LA as the son of Leonard and Edythe Robinson. He grew up the eldest child of parents who served their country in the Second World War. He was formed in his childhood by their humble gratitude for having a piece of earth to call their own to build and grow things having seen enough destroyed by war. Like many of his generation, Eugene learned to survive with little as though it were plenty. “My daddy once told me that when the Depression came on no one down here in Louisiana new anything about it. There was no going to a store to buy what you needed. You grew or shot it, or you didn’t eat.” He came to know what it meant to live life to the fullest as though it could end in a moment. He married his greatest love, Joyce Loree Key on October 30, 1965. For anyone who knew Ree, it was her greatest joy to be a wife and mother, and for Eugene it seemed that his greatest contentment was to know he fulfilled her joy to that end. “I never had one memory that I would say was my ‘fondest.’ Every day of my life was my fondest memory.” He learned to lead when others wanted to follow. After returning to Columbia from a decade of raising his family in Thibodaux, LA and settling down in First Baptist Church, Columbia he was eventually ordained as a deacon, faithfully serving for more than 20 years. Working for Texas Gas for over thirty years, he knew a thing or two of loyalty and faithfulness to his co-workers rising to the position of their union president. Adding to this, he took on the role of spreading the testimony of the greatness of God’s inspired word as a Gideon. Bearing the torch on his lapel pin in every speech he gave. 

Though he wasn’t a perfect man, as no one is, he gave his all to build a legacy. Not one that would honor him or his accomplishments. Rather, a legacy of children who cannot deny they were raised to fear the Lord, to give glory to Jesus, to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.” (Psa. 127:4-5 CSB) Family meant everything to him, which makes it all the sweeter that he is reunited with those who’ve gone before as he is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Edythe Robinson; wife, Loree Robinson; in-laws, Jack and Violet Key; son, Michael Robinson; grandchildren: Tabitha Brown, Reed Brown, Katie Estep, and Tristen Robinson; great-grandson, Jace Roberts; sister, Lin Butler; brother-in-law, Joe Key; sons-in-law, John Warner and Mark Melton; and grandson-in-law, Jeremy Dulaney. 

He is survived by his children: Kimberly Melton, Tami and Allen Brown, Kathy Warner, Jack and Katie Robinson, Rachel and Troy Bordelon, Daniel and Missy Robinson, and Judy and Jason Thomas; along with 23 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Berry; sister-in-law, Sandra Key, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

 A memorial service will be held at 5:30 PM,  Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Columbia, LA.