Rev. Dr. Forrest James Robinson Sr.

WINFIELD - Robinson, Rev. Dr. Forrest James Sr., 89, of Winfield, Kan. died on March 1, 2012. Forrest had a remarkable life. For 64 years he was married to Betty Jean (Matthews) Robinson, who died in December 2010. He is survived by his children: Robin Joy Ullbarri of Evergreen, Colo.; and Forrest James Robinson, Jr. (Jennifer) of Wichita, Kan.; and grandchildren: Jesse Comley; Mikael Ullbarri; Reanna Ullbarri; Derek Norrick; Marisa Szemborski; and Forrest J. Robinson, III. Forrest was born in Winfield, Kan. to William J. Robinson and Gladys S. Robinson. His siblings, Martha Spence, Shelden Robinson, Frances Hays and Doris Blackstock, preceded him in death. He attended Southwestern College until he joined the service during World War II. He was deployed to the European Theater with the 104th Infantry Division. The liberation of the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp near Nordhausen, Germany left a profound mark on his life. After the war he completed his college education at Oklahoma State University. After a successful career in business, he was called to full-time ministry. He graduated from Drew University Theological School in Madison, New Jersey and served United Methodist Churches in the Catskill Mountains of New York, Wichita, Kan., Derby, Kan., Winfield, Kan. and Johnson, Kan. In the 1060s and 1970s he was involved in the civil rights movement. In 1974, while serving the First United Methodist Church in Wichita and in the aftermath of Watergate, he felt compelled to bring a voice of integrity to politics. He ran for the Republican Party nomination for Governor. Subsequently, he served as Kansas first Secretary of the Department of Aging and the Kansas representative to the Ozarks Regional Commission developing industrial parks across the state. Later, he worked as a fund raiser for Southwestern College and even served as its interim president. He resumed a full-time ministry and then served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation. Forrest was involved in many community and social activities. Among those, he was one of the founders of the Winfield Habitat for Humanity. Later in life Forrest bore witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust. He gave 111 presentations to various groups from North Carolina to California. The last such presentation to a group of more than 400 high school students occurred the day before his stroke. Forrests service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church, 1000 Millington Street, Winfield, Kan. There will be a private committal at Highland Cemetery in Winfield, Kan. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Winfield First United Methodist Church, Southwestern College, and Winfield Habitat for Humanity. Condolences may be sent to funeraldirector@stmfh.com Swisher-Taylor & Morris F.H., 803 Loomis, Winfield, KS 67156 is in charge of services.