Leon E. "Tiny" Robinson

Leon Robinson was born June 29, 1943, in Nampa, Ida.
He always said he was the 357th and the largest 12-pound baby born at home with the help of Midwife, Mrs. Thomas.
He had a love for finding and fixing old vehicles. He and some friends built a race car, "Lizzy," which he raced at Meridian Speedway and other tracks in Ontario.
His car number was 54, a number he used to play Keno in Jackpot, his auction number and always two numbers on his license plate.
Tiny worked at Meridian Wood Products where he met his first wife, Roberta. Together, they had a daughter, Bonnie Jean. Tiny helped raise Mike and Larry. He was a Scout leader and helped with their first scooters and vehicles.
Tiny worked for Crook's Industries and H.H. KeimCo. In 1975 he met and married Beverly Wylie. They have three sons: Toby, Lonnie and Zach.
After Keim's shutdown, he hauled scrap iron and bought and sold '55, '56 and '57 Chevys and Chevy parts, traveling the Northwest, to form Triple Classics and to sell to Classic Chevy International.
He also refurbished items that he re-sold through the Caldwell Auction. He enjoyed yard sales, storage auctions and estate sales. Talking someone into a lower price was always fun to him.
When in January 2010, his leg was amputated, he returned to the Wound Clinic in his full pirate's outfit, including a toilet plunger as his peg, bringing smiles to the medical staff and patients. In recent years, he enjoyed planning for the 4th of July - plenty of food, people, and stories.
On May 15, 2011, he told his last story, after a long and courageous battle with Crohn's disease, diabetes and congestive heart failure.
Tiny is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bev; his children, Mike Robinson, McCall; Larry (Lil) Robinson, Hamilton, Mont.; Bonnie Richardson, Nampa; Toby (Chris) Robinson, Notus; Lonnie (Mayra) Robinson, Boise; and Zach (Niki) Robinson, Homedale; and 12 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Pat (Rod) Trumble, Umatilla, Ore.; mother-in-law, Madge Wylie, Melba; stepdad, Bert Whitmore, Caldwell; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.
Tiny received a lot of joy from his children and grandchildren - equally proud of them all.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ethel Robinson Whitmore; father-in-law, Clark Wylie; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
His family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses who touched his life; Elks' Wound Clinic; St. Luke's Hospice; and A Full Life Agency, especially Sherrie, who spent the last two years with him.
A celebration of Tiny's life will be held at the Melba Senior Center on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Melba Quick Response Unit or your favorite charity.