GARDINER – Harlon D. Robinson, 95, died Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Augusta. Harlon was born March 7, 1912, in the Bucks Harbor region of Machiasport, the son of Milton and Susie (Pettegrow) Robinson. After graduating from Addison High School, Harlon sailed for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. He joined the maritime service in World War II, graduating from Navigational School, Fort Trumbull, Conn., with his third mate’s license and sailed aboard Liberty ships. He later upgraded to second mate and served as chief mate on a trip to Murmansk, Russia and Japan. He retired as deputy state sealer of Weights & Measures after 38 years with the Maine Department of Agriculture. Harlon was on the Gardiner City Council for eight years. He was a devoted Lion, holding all local offices plus council chairman, which includes Maine and Maritime Provinces. He belonged to the Manchester Lions Club. He was also a member of the Specifications and Tolerances Committee-National Bureau of Standards and vice-chairman of the National Conference of Weights & Measures. He once served on the Addison School Board and the Southern Kennebec Planning Commission. He was a Kora Temple Shriner and a life member of Masons and the Eastern Star. He belonged to the Chelsea Grange and the Indian River Grange. In recent years, Harlon was an active member of the American Merchant Marine Veterans – Downeast Chapter. Family was very important to Harlon. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Noreen (Ramsay); four daughters, Judith Andrews and husband, Donald, of Gardiner, Janice Lathrop and her companion, Wayne Jackson, of Randolph, Patricia Grant and husband, Kenneth, of Gardiner, and Pamela Mansir and husband, Mark, of South Gardiner; along with seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers, Gerald Robinson and Carl Robinson, both formerly of Addison. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at Gardiner Congregational Church, 46 Church St., Gardiner, with refreshments after at Hayden Hall. Burial will be held after at Maple Grove Extension Cemetery, Randolph. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harlon’s memory to Manchester Lions Club, P.O. Box 1, Manchester, ME 04351. Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
HARLON D. ROBINSON
