September 29, 2024, 71, Goldsboro —
Thomas Richard Robinson—beloved husband, father, friend, and pastor—went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1953, to the late Forrest Proctor Robinson and Gloria Robinson (living), Richard’s early life was spent as a military brat, along with his surviving brothers, Terry, Jerry, and Mike Robinson. An employee of Boeing, Forrest’s job moved his family from state to state until one fine day in 1973, when Rick, a service station employee, helped Delia Joan Robinson, his surviving wife, and her mother, the late Betty Ruth Anderson, push their fuel-spent car off William Street, Goldsboro, launching a fifty-one-year romance and a fifty-year loving marriage. “He seems like a nice boy,” Joan remembers her mother noting at the time.
Pastor Rick, as many know him, was called to serve the Lord in 1982. After completing seminary at Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC, in 1987, Pastor Rick began his 30-year career as a Pentecostal Holiness (PH) minister at Smithfield PH Church in Smithfield, NC. In 1991, Pastor Rick assumed the pastorate of Person Street PH Church in Fayetteville, NC, where he led the church in relocating to Eastover, NC, under a new name, Baywood PH Church. In 1997, Pastor Rick and his family moved to Chunchula, Alabama, where he briefly served as assistant pastor at Lott Road Church of God, before moving back to North Carolina in 2000 to serve at Maranatha PH Church in Beaufort, NC. In 2006, Pastor Rick was led to serve at Chadbourn PH Church, before serving his second tenure at Baywood PH Church in 2013. He retired from the pastorate in 2017, concluding a career of devoted service that touched the lives of countless people.
Since retiring, Pastor Rick became Driver Rick, working as a very enthusiastic part-time tour bus driver, transporting people all over the Southeast and beyond, from farms to golf courses to sporting events to Mr. Beast’s studio. When not driving buses, Rick spent his time in his yard, where his green thumb nourished myriad plant life—flowers, collards, African milkweed, pineapple, Texas prickly pear, and many more. He was also an avid and adventurous home cook who was especially proud of his lemon pie, canned jam, pork ribs, and, most recently, carnitas.
But above all, across the seven decades of his life, Rick was a loving, committed husband, son, father, and grandfather. Further, as anyone who knew him will tell you, Rick (or Ricky or Richard or Pastor Rick) was a generous, kind, helpful, hardworking, loving, joyful, and at times goofy soul. He will be missed more than words can express.
Rick is survived by his wife, Delia Joan Robinson of Goldsboro, NC; his mother, Gloria Robinson of Chunchula, AL; his brothers, Terry Lynn Robinson of Taylor, TX, Jerry Clayton Robinson of Chunchula, AL, Forrest Michael Robinson of Everett, WA; his younger daughter Rachel Anne Koon (husband Cody) of Hope Mills, NC; his son Thomas Bradley Robinson (wife Jessica) of Kyle, TX; his elder daughter Erica Lynn Webb (husband Keith); and his grandchildren, Delilah Rose Koon (parents Rachel and Cody), Forrest William Robinson (Parents Brad and Jessica), and Cameron Brayden and Tristan Conyer Webb (parents Erica and Keith.)
Events celebrating Rick’s life will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at The First Church in Goldsboro, NC, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00 am.
Memorials may be made in Rick’s memory to The First Church, 1100 The First Church Rd, Goldsboro, NC, 27534.
Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
