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| William Robie | |
| August 16, 1920 - November 27, 2009 | |
| of Lake Forest, Illinois | |
| Memorial Service: 1:30 p.m. December 19, 2009 at Lake Forest Place Vail Room 1100 Pembridge Drive Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 | |
| William Alexander Robie died on November 27, 2009, after suffering a severe stroke. He was born on August 16, 1920, to William Chalfont and Jane Alexander Robie in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After attending St. Peter’s Episcopal Choir School, Collingswood High School, and Bullis Preparatory School, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June, 1938. After the Pearl Harbor attack, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served on the USS Boggs in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1943, he was promoted to Gunnery Officer and served on the USS Melvin. From 1943 to 1945, the Melvin served in combat as part of the destroyer screen off Okinawa and in the invasion of Saipan. During these operations the Melvin was credited with sinking two submarines and destroying eight Japanese aircraft. On October 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Melvin torpedoed and sank the Japanese battleship Fuso, the only destroyer to sink a battleship during World War II. After the end of the war, Robie served at duty stations in Charleston, South Carolina; Washington, D.C.; San Diego, California; and Great Lakes, Illinois, as well as duty aboard the USS Williamsburg, and Commanding Officer of the USS Vesole and USS Pickaway. He retired, with full honors, at the rank of Captain from Great Lakes Naval Training Center on June 30, 1966. Subsequently, he was employed as a executive of Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois until his retirement in July 1984. During his retirement, Robie performed many hours of volunteer work for the American Cancer Society and the Lake Forest Senior Center. On April 25, 1946, he married Ann Louise Edwards. They had four children. After her death, Robie married Beverley Olds Baker adding her four children to the family. He is survived by his wife, Beverley of Lake Forest Place; his sister Eleanor Cavanaugh (William) of Bluffton, SC; Dr. Kristin Robie of New York, NY with her daughter Julia; Mr. Michael Edwards Robie with his spouse Jean Ketchum of Lawrence, MI and their children Emily, Kerry, Elizabeth, Matthew, Max, Christopher, Eamon and six great-grandchildren; Dr. Peter William Robie (Joan) of Winston-Salem, NC and their children Elizabeth Ann Perdue (James), Jenny Claire and Stephen Peter; Dr. Daniel Cardigan Robie with his spouse Jean Grassman of Brooklyn, NY; Mr. Paxton Baker with his spouse Nancy Lowenthal of Washington, DC and their children Daniel and Jesse; Ms. Roslyn Ingham (David) of Grand Rapids, MI and their children Jodi and Beckie; Ms. Sue McWilliams of Lake Bluff, IL and her children Gwendolyn, Kerrie, Melissa and Ryan; and Ms. Nancy King of Kalamazoo, MI and her children Marissa, Devon and Wade. Captain William A. Robie could be summarized by his love of country and love of family, both in equal amounts. The memorial service will be celebrated at 1:30 pm on December 19, 2009 in the Vail Room at Lake Forest Place Presbyterian Home, 1100 Pembridge Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, the Geneva Foundation or the Lake Forest Place Presbyterian Home Employee’s Holiday Fund. | |
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