John Curtis Robinson, age 96, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 30. John was born in Bridgeport, Illinois on May 28, 1927 to Roscoe G. Robinson and Marie (Carl) Robinson. John grew up as a farm boy but was always fascinated by electricity. In high school, John continued his interest in electronics, but also had time enough to build a motorbike from scratch and play the trombone in two swing bands, the Stardusters Dance Band and the Harry Preble Orchestra.
When W.W. II began, John avoided the draft and turned his hobby into a career by taking the Naval “Eddy” test for electrical aptitude. John was sworn into the U.S. Navy as a Seaman First Class radio/radar man. For most of the war, John was stationed on a Sub-Tender (submarine support) in San Francisco Bay.
After the war, John continued his education pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Illinois. Next came television certification from United Television Laboratories in Louisville, Kentucky, a brand-new field.
Once John was assured a job in this new field, he married his high school sweetheart, whom he also courted at U. of I, Mona L Dean. The couple moved to Pennsylvania where John took a job with Westinghouse, and shortly after Mona gave birth to a son, Larry. Six years later another son, Mark was born, and then the family moved to Indiana where John worked for both R.C.A. and Sarkes Tarzian over the years. He developed many of the systems that became standard in over-air picture tube sets. Joining Sarkes Tarzian brought the family to Bloomington where third son, Bruce was born. While at Tarzians, he developed one of the few high-voltage RF Radiation test sites (or “Radiation Shack’) in the country.
When it came time for another job change, John decided he would rather stay in Bloomington where all his children were in school rather than follow the money to Texas of California. John took a job as an electrical design engineer in the Indiana University Electronics Dept. John retired from I.U. as the head of the Electronics Dept., Johnson Control Systems on campus.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mona D. Robinson, an artist, homemaker and local genealogist. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his younger sister, Donna Todd Goodson.
John is survived by his three sons, Larry Carl (Christine) Robinson, of Bloomington, Mark Dean (Sue Havlish) Robinson, of Madison, Tennessee and Bruce Alan Robinson, also of Bloomington.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. EST at Sumner Cemetery. Cunningham Funeral Home of Bridgeport is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be given at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.