James (Jim) Robinson

James Larry Robinson of Bethel Springs, TN passed away on September 23, 2018 in the home which he built and resided in for the past twenty-seven years with his wife, Dale.

Jim was born on October 17, 1938 in McNairy County to Vester W. Robinson and Thelma M. (McIntyre) Robinson. He was the second of their three sons. His brothers, Glenn (Janeen) of Bethel Springs, TN and Gerald (Shirley) of Mapleton, IL, both survive.

The Robinsons moved from McNairy County to Peoria, IL in 1950 and then to East Peoria. Jim attended East Peoria High School, where he met Dale Anne Mullins, whom he would marry on March 14, 1959 in Peoria. After living briefly in East Peoria, they moved to Sunnyland, IL in 1962 where they would live for the next twenty-nine years and where they would raise their three sons: Randy (Laura) of Lake Jackson, TX; David of East Peoria, IL; Sean of Spring Bay, IL.

Jim was employed as a millwright by Keystone Steel and Wire in Bartonville, IL for thirty years, retiring in 1989. In 1991, he and Dale moved to Bethel Springs. Jim delivered the McNairy County weekly, Independent Appeal, to various businesses within the county for eighteen years. He left the paper in 2012 for health reasons.

Jim was an accomplished mechanic and builder who spent most days in his shop working on his various projects. He was a Volkswagen enthusiast and throughout his life he owned dozens of nearly every model of Volkswagen ever made, including several dune buggies and Bahas that he built from scratch.

Jim was a member of the Antioch Church of Christ, but he and Dale also visited regularly with the Bethel Springs church of Christ.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinson Foundation.