Obituary of Allan Ross Robinson

At McCormick Home in his hometown of London on December 26, 2024, Allan Ross Robinson, in his 94th year, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Born August 21, 1931 to Stanley and Jean (MacIntyre) Robinson, he married the love of his life, Doreen (nee Cooper), in September 1954. He was the best dad (father-in-law) to Scott, John (Kim) and Jan Robinson-Welychka (Ed) and was a cherished grandpa to his grandchildren Ami Pethick (Adam), Kyle Robinson (Alanna Watt), Katie Robinson (Dean Myerscough), Kelsey Robinson (Sam Skalosky), Mitchell Robinson, Quinn Welychka (Laurel McGillis) and Brett Welychka (Karlee); proud great-grandpa to Aya and Addy Pethick; step-grandfather, step-great-grandfather to Scott Siegers (Loni) and their children Weston and Josie. Predeceased by his brother Donald Robinson in 2014. He will be missed by many special people who have provided our family with so much support over the years including his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carol and Peter Menzies and his nieces Dianne Twynstra and Lori Hargreaves. He will be missed by his cherished cousin Gail Haverty and sister-in-law Maggie Robinson.

Our dad met our mom at Labatt Park in 1951 while he was pitching for the London Lou Ball Jr's. That team won back-to-back OBA Jr "A" championships in 1951 and 1952. The team was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Dad is the last surviving member of that team.

Our dad loved his life and his family. We think this is how he was able to defy the odds over-and-over again by living for over 13 years following a terminal diagnosis and battling other health issues, always keeping his sense of humour, a positive outlook, and a good appetite! He was the family entertainer, never missing an opportunity to perform his many impersonations (daffy duck, bugs bunny to name a couple favourites) and tell jokes that he could hardly finish because he was laughing so hard, which would have us all laughing without even hearing the punchline! He was sharp as a tack, following the NFL, NHL, MLB, music, politics, and was current on world news up to his final weeks. He was a London Knights fan, and was so proud watching his grandson Brett play at the Bud Gardens! He enjoyed talking sports, hearing about his family, and we never tired hearing his stories about his younger years.

He was well known in Woodstock in the late 70's for being the GM of the Woodstock Sr 'A' hockey team. The old Perry Street arena was sold out for each game in the playoffs. Dad would recruit several past former pro players, find them jobs in the community with several of those players still residing with their families in Woodstock. Several of those players have been inducted into the Woodstock Sports Hall of Fame.

Dad was a very proud London Life Insurance Company employee with a distinguished career that spanned 38 years, finishing as a Regional Manager. When he retired at age 60, he and our mom continued the many friendships made over the years spending 33 years at Sunningdale G&C Club in London in the summer and at their condo and golf club in Tarpon Springs Florida.

We will miss him terribly but feel so blessed to have him in our lives for so long. "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Thomas Campbell

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario or the Canadian Diabetes Association.