Albert Robison

Albert Robison, 95, of Oak Ridge, formerly of Columbia, Illinois, died Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Monticello House in Jackson.

One of six children, Albert was born Jan. 19, 1919, in Herrin, Illinois, to Thomas M. and Gertie Boyd Robison. Albert and Mildred Chosich were married Jan. 27, 1955, in St. Louis. They had been married 54 years when Mildred passed away Oct. 5, 2009.

Albert's first job away from home was working for the Corps of Engineers on the Mississippi River. As World War II ensued, he continued to work with the corps to construct new runways at Scott Air Field and resided on-station during construction.

In 1942 he received his draft notification and was inducted into the U.S. Army Nov. 23, 1942, at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. He served with the 1850th Service Command Unit of Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, with basic training taking him to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

He was first stationed 12 months in the state of Washington and worked with the military police. He finished military service at Camp Chaffee, where he was a duty guard at the post stockade. He was honorably discharged Jan. 30, 1946.

After his discharge, Albert worked for the Veterans Administration 37 years. He began his career as cook and food service supervisor at Downey Veterans Administration Hospital in Chicago. When John Cochran Veterans Administration Hospital in St. Louis opened March 23, 1954, Albert was there to greet the first patient to be admitted and began a 25-year career as food production supervisor, retiring June 30, 1977.

It was during his employment in St. Louis that Albert met and married Mildred. The couple first resided in St. Louis and then in Dupo, Illinois. The early 1990s brought health complications for Mildred, and they consequently moved to Columbia. Shortly after Mildred's death in 2009, Albert moved to Jackson to be near his extended family in Southeast Missouri.

Reared in the evangelical tradition of the Baptist church, Albert was a professed believer in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was a member of American Legion Post 2910 in Bloomington, Illinois, and was a very proud veteran until the day he died.

Albert is lovingly survived by nieces and nephews, Betty Cowan of Oak Ridge, Fran Robison and Linda Spence of Sikeston, Missouri, Bob Robison of Nashville, Tennessee, and Tom Robison of Springfield, Missouri. He is also survived by many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Albert was also preceded in death by two sisters, Flossie Robison Burchett and Katie Robison Curry; three brothers, the Rev. John "J.W.", Harley, and Jack Robison; a beloved niece, Alice Curry; and two beloved nephews, Carl Eugene Curry and Jim Robison.

Visitation will be from noon to service time Monday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Josh Tillman officiating. A committal service will be held at 3 p.m. at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Full military honors will be conducted.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to American Legion Post 2910 in Bloomington, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Oak Ridge Baptist Church.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.