John Ubert Robinson

John Ubert Robinson, Architect, 79, of Marion passed away on the morning of February 3rd with his loving wife of 57 years by his side.

John was born on June 3,1942 in Marion to Ubert and Irene (Yoars) Robinson, the couple’s only child and their pride and joy. He grew up in south Marion where he attended a one room schoolhouse which was a source of many fond memories. One of John’s greatest childhood treasures was the model train set he and his father built together. From his youngest years, John especially loved trains but also cars and trucks and all forms of transportation. As a young boy he dreamed of running a streetcar like the ones that ran through Marion at that time or driving a fire engine or garbage truck. John also loved riding his bicycle and was a paperboy in his neighborhood of Prairie Homes for many years. He later pumped gas and worked on the Mr. Softie ice cream truck to make enough money to buy his first car, a baby blue Studebaker.

In high school John sold the model train set to buy a crystal radio kit and so began his next passion, HAM radio. John got his amateur radio license and kept active throughout his life, communicating with other operators around the world in Morse code. He also loved listening to the radio, especially The Grand Ole Opry and far away stations that he was an expert at tuning in to.

John attended Clayton Brownlee Elementary, McCulloch Junior High and graduated from Marion High School where he was active as a supporter of the Marion Giants basketball team, just like most of his class was back in the day. He was the "Outstanding DCE" in the high school's work/study program which allowed him to get his first architectural experience: working for his mentor, Gerald Guy.

John attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his architectural degree. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Snyder, in 1964 and they lived in Cincinnati while he finished his degree. He worked in Redding and Springfield, Ohio, before eventually accepting a full-time position as a draftsman with Gerald Guy back in Marion. However, John was eager to have his own projects and work at his own pace and eventually set up his own business, opening an office on the top floor of the post office in downtown Marion. He truly enjoyed the camaraderie of his other colleagues and as he told his family, the most important thing about being happy at work is being with people who have a good sense of humor. John was definitely known for his stories and dry wit and delivering jokes in his deadpan way.

John was involved in many projects in town and the greater area, from small additions and renovations to nursing homes, libraries and churches. He was “Clerk of the Works” of the Marion Public Library’s second building and designed a new auditorium for his home church, then Marion Church of Christ, now Unity Christian Church. Of all his projects John was most proud of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

John served as a deacon at Marion Church of Christ and he and his wife were active with the youth and both taught Sunday school for many years. In the summers, the couple and their family would pile up the back of the truck with as many kids as could fit and haul them to the Mississinewa Reservoir or Pine Lake to swim and ride the waterslides and get ice cream on the way home.

John loved photography, canoeing, camping, spending long nights in the yard with his telescope and going on long drives. He loved old cars, especially the Tucker 48. He and Shirley enjoyed visiting their favorite restaurants and talking to everyone they ran into. He was a tender-hearted man who appreciated nature and the small joys in life. In later years he and Shirley enjoyed visiting Matter Park, whether to see their grandkids and great-granddaughter play in the playground or take lunch and watch the ducks on the pond. He loved his hometown of Marion and was happy to live here.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his baby daughter Julie, and son, Jeffrey.

He is survived by his wife Shirley and two daughters, Angela (Kevin) Regnault and Jeannie; step-grandsons, Kevin Jr. and Patrick Regnault and great grandsons, Cameren and Lucas Regnault, and Shane Thinnes; sister-in-law Karen (Steve) Lewark and niece Kelli (Scott) Hawkins and nephew Steven Lewark. More than anything in the world he adored his granddaughters, Jesselyn (Jason) Young, Mayumi and Arisa Hara, of Tokyo, and great-granddaughter Evelyn.

John believed it was his Christian duty to give to anyone who asked for help and he was generous to his family and several charities including The Humane Society of America, Toys for Tots and The American Foundation for the Blind among others. Contributions in his honor may be made to IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service), care of Unity Christian Church.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 W. Kem Road, Marion, Indiana. Funeral services will be at noon, Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Unity Christian Church, 140 N. Pennsylvania Street, Marion, Indiana with Pastor Josh Bowlin officiating.

Burial will follow in Estates of Serenity Cemetery, Marion, Indiana.

Online condolences and memories for the family can be shared at www.ravenchoate.com