Rudolph Charles 'Chuck' Robbin, 74
Rudolph Charles "Chuck" Robbin, 74, of Great Falls, an Air Force and Montana Air National Guard veteran, retired history teacher and longtime Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and civic volunteer, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at a local hospital of natural causes.
The family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Schnider Funeral Home. His memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, March 12, at First United Methodist Church in Great Falls, with Pastor Robert Foote officiating. Burial with military honors will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.
Chuck was born Jan. 31, 1933, in Kalispell and was raised on the east shore of Flathead Lake, graduating from Bigfork High School in 1951. After graduating from the University of Montana in 1955, Chuck served for six years as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force. He continued his military service in the Montana Air National Guard, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1976.
After receiving his teaching degree from the College of Great Falls, Chuck was a teacher in the Great Falls public school system for 29 years. During most of this time he taught eighth grade U.S. History at North Middle School. A true professional, Chuck was a past president of the Great Falls Education Association and a lifetime member of the Montana and National Education Associations.
He married Charlotte Ann Petti on June 6, 1959, in Great Falls.
Chuck spent the summers managing his cherry orchard on Flathead Lake. After he earned his Master's Degree from Northern Montana College, he wrote a book on the local history of the area of his childhood.
During retirement Chuck volunteered thousands of hours serving various charitable and community organizations, including swim teams, Boy Scouts, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and was on the boards of the United Way, the Food Bank, and the Cascade County Historical Society.
Chuck was an avid reader and historian who loved music, travel, garage sales, huckleberry picking, his family, friends and pets. He was an avid University of Montana Grizzly football fan.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Charlotte Robbin of Great Falls; sons, Jeff and Peggy Robbin of Flower Mound, Texas, and David Robbin and Sarah Brustkern of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and three grandchildren, Emily Burnett, Dustin Burnett and Heidi Robbin, all of Flower Mound, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellamae and Rudolph Robbin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Bridges Day Care, c/o Mary Kunkel, 1130 17th Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405; the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 4201 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405; or the Humane Society, 1010, 25th Ave. N.E., Great Falls, MT 59404.
Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.schniderfuneralhome.com
Schnider Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.