OBITUARY: John Robison

John Robison

John Zachary Robison, 73, surrounded by loving family members, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 while a patient in the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, following a brief illness and complications from surgery. He was born on December 20, 1945 at Dry Lake, Nevada en route to the hospital.

John was the eighth of ten children born to Dell Hinckley and Pearl Wittwer Robison. He grew up in Logandale, Nevada and graduated from Moapa Valley High School.

He served a 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala and El Salvador. He also served briefly in the U.S. Navy Reserves, but due to health matters, was honorably released.

John met Malinda Ruth Clark while they were both working in Las Vegas and were later married in the St. George LDS Temple in December 1971. They resided and continued to work in Las Vegas for a couple of years prior to moving to Logandale to establish their home. John and Malinda successfully operated a Sears Catalog Store in Overton Nevada from 1974-1980, which they then sold.

Following the sale of the Sears store, John began a job in what would become his career as a newspaper man, working with the Lake Mead Monitor, a hometown newspaper begun by his oldest brother Bryant to provide the Moapa Valley with a local newspaper.

Due to unexpected health problems with Malinda’s parents, they moved to Malinda’s home town of Wise, Virginia for a couple of years to care for Malinda’s aging mother in her final months of life.

They then returned to Logandale and he again became involved with the local newspaper, working as writer, photographer and editor. Eventually, he became the owner and publisher of what would become the Moapa Valley Progress, which he later sold to his nephew, Vernon Robison.

John loved the Moapa Valley as well as the surrounding areas and the people who lived there. He had a natural curiosity about things and he also had a kind, gentle manner and wit that endeared him to all of those he met. He had many friends and was always interested in the people and the events of the valley. He had an extensive knowledge of the history of Southern Nevada and he could recall, often in detail, even minor events that occurred, together with knowing about the people involved in them.

He was always an active and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life and he devoted years of service to those he knew and loved, regardless of who they were or where they came from.

Due to health issues, John retired to St. George where he resided until his death.

He is survived by his five remaining siblings: Bryant (Darlene) Robison of Logandale, NV, Rosalie (Paul) Risk of Nacogdoches, TX, Asahel ‘Ace’ (Jennifer) Robison of St. George, UT, Lee (Mary Kaye) Robison of Las Vegas, NV and Julie (Dale) Olive of St. George, UT.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Malinda, who passed away in 2012; his parents, Dell and Pearl Robison; as well as his older brothers, Albert, Clark and David Robison, and sister Esther Olson.

.Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hinckley Ave. LDS Chapel, 1505 Hinckley Ave., Logandale, NV 89021. A viewing will be held 9:30 to10:30 a.m. prior to service. Interment will take place at the Logandale Cemetery. Services under the direction of Moapa Valley Mortuary.