Steve Robinson

Steve Robinson was lost much too soon on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 after a long and heroic fight with cancer. Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Grandfather, Mentor, Warrior, Policeman, Farmer, Carpenter, Mechanic, Home Builder. Upholding a tradition of his family since the Revolutionary War, Steve served our country in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. He led a full life that took him from Appalachian coal mines to the Khyber Pass. Steve graduated from West High School and joined the Air Force which gave him a free pass to Vietnam. Upon return he married (Elaine Hester) followed by the birth of a beautiful daughter (Sara), the love of his life. He worked hard his whole life starting in Kentucky coal mines followed by nearly a decade of happy times in Texas. Returning to Knoxville, Steve was a deputy for the Knox County Sheriff's office before wanderlust got the best of him and he headed for military support in Iraq and Afghanistan. Coming back to his beloved mountains of East Tennessee he semi-retired to his farm in Riverdale, Knox County where he designed, and with his wife Debi and his extended family, built his home. He gardened, volunteered for Love Kitchen, built trucks, and g...[more]

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rally kept things running. He was a generous and kind man. Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Jo Palmer Robinson Whittle; his father, J.T. Robinson (WWII). Survived by his wife, Debi Schlabach Robinson; brother & sister in law, Tim Robinson & Elaine Clark; children and grandchildren: Sara Robinson Doucette (Bruce Doucette, Grace Doucette, Avery Doucette); Erin Beaver Kalb (Casey Kalb, Ellie Kalb, Wells Kalb); Zach Beaver (Sarah Beaver, Dax Beaver); Aunt, Etta Henson (Jack Henson). 
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in honor of Steve Robinson to Love Kitchen. https://thelovekitchen.org. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Robinson family and invites you to view and sign the online registry.