Paul Robertson

Paul Chester Robertson, 79, of Battlefield, MO passed away Saturday, June 21, 2025. He was born January 20, 1946, to Chester and Angeline Robertson.
Paul grew up in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri where he graduated from Valle High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1967, and a Master of Education degree from Chapman College in 1975.
Paul joined the Air Force in 1967, graduating from Officer Training School and Navigator Training. His first assignment as a navigator was with the 1st Military Airlift Squadron at Dover Air Force Base (AFB) flying in C-133s. He later trained on AC-119K Stinger gunships as an FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) Operator and was subsequently stationed at Danang Air Base in Vietnam from September 1970 until May 1971 and Nakhon Phanom Air Base in Thailand until September 1971. His next assignment was as a Navigator Instructor at Mather AFB in Sacramento until spring of 1976. After that, he was a C-5 Navigator at Dover AFB, where he also served in the Command Post. He was an ROTC Instructor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, from May 1979 until May 1982. His last duty assignment was at McGuire AFB in New Jersey where he was a 21st Air Force Flight Planner and then the Base Operations Officer until his retirement in September 1987.
Paul was an avid gardener throughout his life, maintaining an organic vegetable garden for much of his adulthood. In his retirement, he became a Master Gardener and was involved in several gardening organizations and clubs, including the Succulent Society of the Ozarks and the Springfield Organic Gardening Club.
Paul was also the creative director and nurturer of the Succulent Garden skirting the southern faces of the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center. He approached Park staff around 2013 about adding a Succulent Garden to the Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The stark landscape surrounding the Botanical Center welcome building that opened in late 2010 was a prime location for a garden that would require minimum water and input as prescribed by the building's LEED certification. He worked closely with design and operations staff to do the heavy lifting of placing rocks, developing soil mixes and experimenting with plants not commonly found in Springfield, MO. He volunteered over 100 hours each year for the past dozen years taking meticulous care and record-keeping for the database.
Paul's personality aligns quite well with succulents, which are described as plants with fleshly leaves or stems that store water and allow them to survive in arid conditions. Some succulents have thorns, spines, or hairs that discourage anything from getting too close. As a contrast, many succulents change colors through the seasons and produce the most extraordinary flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Paul had strong opinions and regimented routines that guided the structure of the landscape. He also had the kindest and most generous spirit for sharing his love of this plant group with others. He coordinated classes and plant exchanges and spoke with a variety of garden clubs and groups. His love and excitement for plants and gardens was infectious and he made a difference to the Springfield plant and garden community as well as visitors from all over the world who would visit the Springfield Botanical Gardens.
Paul was a dedicated lifetime fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He last saw them in person, in the company of his loving family, on May 29, 2024, in Cincinnati, OH when they beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3.
Paul was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Paul Robertson and former spouse, Frances Elaine McQuaid Robertson; as well as his parents, Chester and Angeline Robertson.
Paul is survived by his daughter, Lauren Robertson Garnier; son-in-law, JP Garnier; granddaughter, Kayla Louise Garnier Hall (Roy); sisters, Mary Alice Robertson-Corr and Faye Robertson Polillio (Raymond); brother, Stephen Robertson (Pat); and 6 nieces and nephews.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield, MO. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations "in memory of Paul Robertson" to the Succulent Garden at Springfield Botanical Gardens by visiting https://bit.ly/Succulent_Garden. A memorial service will be planned for a later date.