Chester Milton "Crash" Robins III

Chester "Crash" Milton Robins III, 83, of Greenville, NC, passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with Alzheimer's on December 30, 2025.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 2-4 PM at Wilkerson Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Cape Charles Cemetery, Parsons Circle, Cape Charles, Virginia.
The first of five children, he was born in Wilmington, Delaware on August 30, 1942. While still an infant, the young family returned to their hometown of Cape Charles, VA and his dad enlisted in the Navy to serve during WWII. Crash spent his boyhood in Cape Charles and learned the waters of Chesapeake Bay from his grandfathers. Later in his youth, his family moved back to Wilmington, where Crash met his beloved wife, Joyce. First acquainted through Sunday school, their first official date was to a high school fall ball game. She was a freshman and he was a senior, and baseball would become a theme throughout their lives.
In 1962, he received his Associates Degree in Accounting from Goldey-Beacom College and was very pleased with the exceptionally high score he earned on the IBM Programmer Aptitude Test. But job searching was difficult with a 1-A draft status, so he enlisted in the US Navy in 1963 as US involvement in Vietnam was increasing. After basic training in Great Lakes, IL, he and Joyce were married in 1964 and Chester was stationed at Naval Base San Diego. His new bride could not join him in San Diego right away, but followed a few months later after she graduated high school. For their first wedding anniversary, they attended a three-game winning streak series by the LA Dodgers. In the Navy he was trained in computerized machine accounting using the computer programming language COBOL.
Honorably discharged in 1967, he soon began a long career with Burrough Wellcome in Information Technology, hired as a computer programmer in White Plains, NY. In the spring of 1970, he moved to Greenville, NC during the leading edge of relocations to the new Burrough plant, and Greenville is where he put down deep roots. He enjoyed his work and the relationships he built along the way. He enjoyed his life outside of work even more and retired at 51, during the merger between Burrough Wellcome and Glaxo.
Joyce was his first love, and baseball was a close second. Anyone that knew him also knew his affection for all levels of baseball, youth to pro. He was a lifelong student of the sport. He knew the rules, understood the skills, and loved the strategic complexity of the game. He was a season-ticket holder for several of ECU's athletic teams, but baseball for the longest. He played on many different intramural softball teams over the years and coached a few as well, both men and women's.
Greenville Little League became a true passion. His involvement began in the early 80s and it was a perfect match. Chester had keen observation skills and a thoughtful instructional style. And he truly wanted every kid in the community that had an interest in playing ball to have access. This inspired his support and development of the new Minor League. He was so pleased with its continued growth and success in the overall GLL program. The Minor League is now entering its 38th season. He loved every aspect of youth baseball and there was no role he would not fill or support, concessions to commissioner, scorekeeper to coach. He even became the go-to-guy for glove repair and relacing for all levels of players. Occasionally a player would show up on the doorstep during a college series hoping for an emergency repair between games and he was always willing to help.
During his retirement years, baseball remained a constant, but he pursued other activities as well. He often volunteered his time to support several non-profit organizations in the community. For a decade, 1991-2001, he and Joyce were very involved with the local hot air ballooning community and owned their own balloon. Joyce was the pilot and Chester was her enthusiastic crew leader that always loved the ground chase. They traveled to many places for ballooning events, including the Albuquerque NM and France. And throughout his life he frequently returned to Cape Charles for family visits and great fishing, and earned citations for both cobia and black drum. He was an eclectic music lover and fan of all varieties of country music. As an original Parrot Head, he was thrilled to see Jimmy Buffet at Minges Coliseum in 1977.
Crash had many friends. He really enjoyed people, good conversation, and entertaining stories. His smile always made a person feel special. He had an amazing combination of integrity and humility, logic and humor, gruffness and kindness. He was always willing to serve. He raised his family well and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He had faith. He enjoyed life. He lived it well. He will be missed by many.
He is preceded in death by grandson Trey; parents Chester and Vilette; siblings Micheal, Wayne and Kay.
Crash will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Joyce Lee Cloud Robins; daughter Michelle (Johnny) Viccaro of Raleigh, NC; son Travis (Marylou) Robins of Vero Beach, FL; grandchildren Mia, Washington and Annabelle; sister Lorraine Ennis.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Greenville Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity.