Richard 'Dick' Robinson

Dick Robinson passed away on Monday, November 12, 2018, just ten days shy of his 93rd birthday, due to complications of Alzheimer’s. He was born in Salt Lake City on November 22, 1925 to Franklin Q Robinson and Vera McClellan.
Dick grew up in the Liberty Park area of Salt Lake and graduated from South High in 1943. After turning 18 years of age, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and commenced training in Amarillo, Texas, to become a pilot. While on leave he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou Fowler, on February 11, 1945, in her mother’s living room on Eleventh East.
He returned to Amarillo with Mary Lou by his side to complete his training. Anxious to see combat, he was disappointed when the War ended later that year. So back to Salt Lake they came where Dick went to work in his parents’ flower shop in the old Newhouse Hotel, and Mary Lou labored with the birth of their first son, Scott. Fourteen months later, a second son, Ike, joined the family.
After 10 years as a florist, Dick shifted gears and joined D. N. & E. Walter & Co. as a carpet/drapery salesman. Mary Lou also put bread on the table working as a bookkeeper and office manager at various downtown Salt Lake companies, taking a break to give birth to their third son, Cort, in 1956.
Dick was an avid golfer and a true lover of man’s best friend. Dogs were always a large part of his life.
Later in life Dick and Mary Lou divorced and Dick ultimately found love and happiness again, marrying Lori Drage Leikan in Lake Tahoe, California, on July 23, 1986. A few years later, Dick retired, but Lori continued her career as a Registered Nurse at St. Mark’s Hospital while raising her two sons, Michael and David, to manhood. Dick’s Alzheimer’s became more and more unmanageable without Lori’s constant and loving care, causing her to finally retire a few years ago. The ravages of Alzheimer’s continued to intensify but Dick was still happy and full of laughter to the very end.
In addition to Mary Lou, his three sons, Lori and her two sons, Dick is survived by his niece, Dianne Yarter, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, three dogs and a cat. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Elaine Boyce, and her two other children, Edward and Jeannene.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday November 17, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of the building.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to an animal rescue group of your choice.