- Date Of Death: October 26, 2021
- State: California
Wayne and Lavon Robinson:
Wayne Claude Robinson was born March 22, 1925 in Rio Vista, California to Earl L. Robinson and Vada A. Gaddis Robinson. The family lived on the north side of Venice Hill near Ivanhoe, California. His father was a foreman on the Linger Longer Ranch that farmed citrus. His Brother, Leonard, was born there. His mother thought Wayne was smart enough to start first grade when he was 5 years old. His teacher would pick him up at the end of the driveway to go to the Venice Hill Elementary School House.
His father got a job on the Stone Corral Ranch. While there, he would walk south to get guitar lessons from Cowboy Hanna. That would be Joe and Jack Hanna’s father.
When their house burned down, they lost everything they had. That forced them to move to Exeter and lived in a few places until his parents divorced. He lived with his mother and brother on her rental property in Exeter.
Dad graduated from Exeter High School in 1942. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and ended up stationed in Alameda on Governor’s Island.
After dad got shipped out to the Philippine Islands. Mom decided to go to Pacific Bible College, now called Warner Pacific College, in Portland, Oregon.
Audrey Lavon Liston was born March 14, 1925 to Everett and Ethel Cardin Liston in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She grew up mostly in Ripley, Oklahoma.
When her family moved to Richmond, California, Lavon stayed behind with her uncle’s family to finish her junior year of high school in Moore, Oklahoma. She rode to California with her Uncle Earl in a dump truck. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1943.
Mom hadn’t finished her first year of college, when dad came back from the Philippines. After attending a year at Warner Pacific, she could no longer stand the distance apart and she came home to Richmond.
Rodney was born June 12, 1946. Six months later, they all moved to Exeter, California. They lived on Wayne’s mother’s property in the second cabin next to her.
Dad started work at Spaulding Lumber Yard in Exeter. Later on, he worked for Justison’s Grocery Store in Visalia across from the old courthouse on Court St. He was taught how to butcher meat by Miles Doss. He also met Mr. Sheppard who later started his own grocery store in the Patterson Tract. We lived behind that store in our first house in Visalia.
Dad went to work as an agent for National Life and Accident Insurance Company for the next 10 years. Dad had been talking to Bill Ellis at the post office and was offered his last chance to earn a retirement pension if started right away. He was there until retirement after 25 years.
Saundra was born February 17, 1949. We were still living on Grandmother’s property. Wayne’s mother would baby sit Rod and Saundra while mom worked in the office of C & S Tire Company. It was still on the S.E. corner of Pine St. and “F” St. When we moved to Visalia, mom went to work for J.C. Penny’s Dept. Store on the N.W. corner of Main St. and Court St. At that time, Grandma Liston was living with them and babysitting Rod and Saundra. They moved back to Exeter when they bought the grocery store. After they sold the store, mom went to work for Cantrell’s Market on Visalia Rd. for Ernie and Babe Cantrell. Her next job was with the Bank of America on the corner of Pine St. and “E” St. where she retired in 1982 after working 25 years.
After retiring from the bank, she did book keeping for a jewelry store on Pine St.
Mom would organize and practice with several musical groups at our house. All of this had a great influence on their children. This included a youth trumpet trio with Rodney, Bruce Brandt, and Steve Nunneley. There was a youth male gospel quartet with Rodney, Larry Curtis, Bruce Brandt, and Steve Nunneley.
Mom and dad had an early interest in midget car races while living in Richmond. This changed to early stock car races then NASCAR races they would watch on TV for the rest of their lives. Dad, being influenced by his brother Leonard, got involved in outboard boating. We all learned how to water ski. This activity would be shared with friends and youth group outings and vacations. Dad’s brother also got them traveling on a motorcycle.
Dad earliest interest was flying.
Their retirement included traveling with a camper trailer or a motorhome that included Florida, Wisconsin at the Oskosh fly-in, Oklahoma, Sturgis motorcycle rally, Mount Rushmore and more.
After traveling, they settled in Woodburn, Oregon and bought a home.
