Ernest Kay "Sonny" Robbins Sr.

Ernest "Sonny" Kay Robbins, Sr. Sonny was born May 6, 1945, in Iroquois County, Illinois to Monroe and Lorene Robbins, the fourth of five children. He grew up in Iroquois and Sheldon with his four sisters and they often visited family in the surrounding area of French Lick, Indiana. He graduated from Sheldon High School in 1964, where he was a member of the FFA. He married his high school sweetheart, Sally Kilgore, and they started a family.

Raising their two sons in Sheldon, Sonny had passion for the farming industry and made a career as a farmer and truck driver for almost 45 years, retiring in 2015 from Crop Production. He could spot arrowheads and other Indian artifacts from the cab of tractors while working the fields. He was very proud of doing his part in feeding America. He grew up gardening and kept a home garden each year. Sonny also enjoyed his time as an outdoor sportsman, hunting with both gun and bow, fishing, and camping.

He loved John Deere tractors and purchased an old 1942 Model A. He rebuilt and restored that tractor and enjoyed taking it to local tractor pulls, fairs, and parades. He also restored his son's John Deere pedal tractor for his grandchildren. He accumulated an impressive John Deere toy tractor collection over several decades.

After retiring, Sonny and Sally moved to Texas to be closer to family. Sonny passed away peacefully in Parker County, Texas surrounded by family, on October 24, 2025. A celebration of life will be in Sheldon at a later date.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally Robbins; sons Ernest "Ernie" K. Robbins Jr., Jeffery "Jeff" Robbins and daughter-in-law Kristin Robbins; grandchildren Carolann and Robert Grimes, Melissa and Nate Evart, Megan Robbins, Cason Robbins, Cheyenne Robbins, Juliet Sexton, Troy Sanders; great grandchildren Lindsey Grimes, Miranda Grimes, Joanna Evart and Elijah Evart; and sisters Janet Morefield and Mary Ellen Robbins.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Monroe Robbins and Lorene Robbins McNeil, and sisters Jean Robbins Atwood and Joan Robbins Sweeney.