Dec. 29, 1927 — Oct. 15, 2013

NATCHEZ— Funeral services for Robert Earl Robbins, Sr., 85, of Vidalia, who died Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill McCullin officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. Friday until service time at the funeral home.

Mr. Robbins was born on Dec. 29, 1927, in Norton, Va., the son of Rufus Ayers and Nanny Ethel Wells Robbins.

He left the coal mines of southwest Virginia and came to Natchez to work at International Paper Company in Natchez until his retirement in 1991. He really enjoyed his retirement, especially spending time with his family and friends on Old River at Minorca.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Ruth Robbins; parents; two brothers, Wince and Gifford Robbins; three sisters, Lorraine Robertson, Eloise McGlothlin, and Mildred George; and son-in-law, Aaron Vestal.

Survivors include his son, Robert Earl “Robby” Robbins, Jr. and his wife, Shirley, of Tacoma, Va; three sisters, Peggy McDaniel, and husband, Bill Sr., Sue Vestal, and Maureen “Mo” Saunders, all of Vidalia; brother, John E. Robbins of Bristol, Va.; sister, Peggy Smedley of Md.; 11 grandchildren, Kathy Sue Weippert and husband, Bob, Robert Earl Robbins III and wife, Allison, Christopher Robbins and wife, Bernetta, Michelle Donovan and husband, Jack Sr., Bill McDaniel, Jr. and wife, Angie, Ted Vestal and wife, April, Tim Vestal and wife, Bridget, Amanda Mullins and husband, Jimmy, Jamie Saunders, Wendy Jenkins, and Melissa Hebert and husband, Nick; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Chris Robbins, Bill McDaniel, Jr., Ted Vestal, Tim Vestal, Jimmy Mullins, Jamie Saunders, Peyton Jenkins, Jacob Jenkins, Nick Hebert and David Jenkins.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Robbins, Jack Donovan, Bob Weippert, the Nicky’s and Kaiser’s Mobil coffe clubs.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and online condolences may be made to www.lairdfh.com.