Robin Roberts

Robin Austin Roberts was born on December 6, 1950 and adopted by Clay and Ruth Ann Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Robin received the gifts of two younger brothers, Clay Tonry in 1953 and Todd Cochrane in 1955.

Robin enjoyed sports starting at a young age. As boys, his father, Clay, made Robin and his brothers join the family tradition of Greco-Roman wrestling, which he mostly disliked. However, Robin loved baseball and his tall, slender build made him a great pitcher. He also excelled at tennis and remained athletic throughout most of his life.

Robin, always social and outgoing, hosted many home parties and had several close friendships. He graduated from Tulsa Memorial High School in 1969.

Robin headed off to join the Navy and graduated from the Naval Training Center as 1st Platoon Leader in 1970. While in the Navy, he attended Operating Room Technician School, graduating in 1972, and went on to serve as a Medical Assistant in Portsmouth, Virginia and Bainbridge, Maryland. Robin received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Award, and he retired with honors in 1975.

After returning home to Tulsa, Robin married Pamela Howe in 1976.

He began his career as a Surgical Technologist with Tulsa Regional Medical Center from 1975-1982. Robin worked in several local hospitals and with certain doctors as a private duty nurse for many years in Tulsa.

With the goal of becoming a doctor, Robin attended Tulsa Junior College as a Pre-Med major and later the University of Tulsa as a Health Science major. While never completing this goal, Robin continued to work as a Surgical Tech with St. John's Hospital on and off from 1989-1997.

Robin and Pam gave birth to their only son, Chad Ervin Roberts in November 1980.

They were divorced in 1984 but always remained close, and despite Pam and Chad moving to Dallas, Texas in 1985, Robin was an active father and visited many, many times.

Chad also traveled to Tulsa to spend holidays and summers with his dad. Some of his favorite memories include 4th of July camping trips, biking and frisbee at Tulsa River Parks, playing chess and Monopoly together, swimming at Robin's neighborhood pool, visiting cousins, and traveling together on his sales calls.

During this time, Robin held Sales Account Supervisor roles with Supreme Printing and Stationary Co and Lloyd's Envelopes & Forms from 1982-1989.

Pam and Chad moved back to Tulsa in 1990 allowing Robin to spend more time with his son including coaching baseball, attending Tulsa Driller's games, going to Bell's amusement park, teaching him to drive a manual, and providing love and guidance throughout Chad's middle school, high school, and college years.

As Chad grew into adulthood and began his career, Robin was always a source of love and wisdom for life's big events. He came to visit as Chad moved around for jobs in Colorado and Texas, attending sporting events and getting to know Chad's friends. He was an ever-present source of support no matter how far apart.

While Robin loved the medical field, he was not always able to work in an operating room. He eventually ended up spending the final years of his career in retail at great companies like Oshman's Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, and Kohl's Department Store. He finally got to return to medical as a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital for a few years in his late 60s.

Even through life's challenges, family was always important to Robin. He enjoyed spending time with his brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces & nephews throughout the years.

Grand-fatherhood (aka Pappy-hood):

Robin first met his future daughter-in-law in 2014 and was so proud to participate in Chad and Sarah's wedding in 2015. Not long after, his granddaughter, Pruitt Adele Roberts, was born in December 2016. Her younger brother, Sullivan Austin Roberts, followed shortly thereafter in June 2018. As per tradition, Sullivan's middle name is the same as his Grandpa's, who, by the way, wanted to be called "Pappy".

While the young Roberts family chose to live in Dallas, Texas, Pappy came down from Tulsa to visit many times throughout the years. He loved watching them grow up, and when he couldn't visit, he always enjoyed hearing stories and seeing photos of his grandkids. Not one to quickly adopt technology, Robin wasn't the type to video chat or log into Facebook, the kids could always count on hand-written birthday and Christmas cards from Pappy.

Robin was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August 2024. Unfortunately, this left him with severe difficulty breathing and swallowing, and he had to undergo surgeries to get a tracheotomy for breathing and a stomach tube for feeding. He spent three months in the hospital and rehabilitation centers learning to live with these devices, trying to regain his strength, and preparing to begin the process of cancer treatment. Soon after he was released home to start the next phase of care, breathing complications sent him to the St. Francis emergency room on December 19, 2024. In his weakened state, Robin passed away of natural causes on December 21, 2024 at 4:55p. His family is confident that he was as comfortable as possible during these last days and was fully prepared to pass into the next life. We know he is finally at peace and sending love and positive energy to all of us!