Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information

William Robertson, Sr. Obituary
William (Bill) Robertson died January 19, 2017. He was born in Elyria, Ohio, August 7, 1927 to Duncan and Effie Peabody Robertson. Bill married Helen Verbeck Robertson in 1948 and raised a family of five children. Bill was a star high school athlete and after serving in the Navy, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals for his southpaw pitching. He stayed with the Cardinals until he followed his future wife, Helen, to Bowling Green State University where he continued leading the “Bill Robertson Orchestra”. Bill was a creative saxophone and piano player and sang vocals for high school and college audiences during the Big Band era. He spent his early years working on the New York Central Railroad and then became a successful salesman for wholesale food companies. Bill’s favorite career was as a nursing home administrator with Helen, where they made many effective changes to improve patient care. The nursing home operation at Golden Acres in Amherst was so successful that a documentary about it was produced at Lorain County Community College. Bill and Helen relocated from Elyria to Bryan, Ohio, where they continued their work as co-administrators of Williams County Hillside Nursing Home until their retirement in 1989.Bill and Helen moved to Sun City, California in 1989 and began their new retired life, naturally, on the 9th hole of Cherry Hills Golf Course. He won several golf tournaments there. What a thrill he had when he shot not one, but two holes in one!Bill enjoyed music, dancing and traveling with Helen for 64 loving years. He was also a stellar bridge player and found bridge games wherever he lived.Bill was preceded in death by his wife Helen in 2012; parents, sister, Nancy Philabaum, grandson, Thomas Robertson and great grandson, Ryan Martinez. He is survived by his children; Bill Jr., Jack (Elaine), Jan (Joanne), Pat (Bud) and Jim (Becky) and grandchildren: Anny, Nicole, Louise, Riley, Will, Brooke and ten great-grandchildren.The family is grateful to cousin Fred Llewellyn for overseeing Dad’s care since September 2015. We will miss dad, grandpa, musician and friend beyond words. We will miss his big smile, sense of humor and fun loving spirit. “Dad, you will be loved by all of us forever.” Friends will gather to share memories of Bill Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Abbewood, 1210 So. Abbe Rd. Elyria. A reception will follow at the home of Fred Llewellyn, 213 Denison Ave., Elyria. Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com SERVICES Memorial Service Saturday, January 28, 2017 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM The Abbewood 1210 So. Abbe Rd. Elyria, OH 44035

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