Joseph Coltrane Robbins Jr., 60, of Chapel Hill, died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, at his home, surrounded by his loving wife, Lauren, dear relatives and friends after a brief battle with cancer.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. A gathering in his honor will be held in Chapel Hill at a later date.
Born to Jean and J.C. Robbins of Aberdeen on April 27, 1951, he grew up in the Sandhills and was part of the last graduating class of Aberdeen High School. In his youth he played several sports, which gave him much joy. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Joe attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s of Business Administration. At UNC, he was a member of the Society of Janus, the Order of the Old Well and the Order of Saint Andrew.
Joe is survived by his wife of 20 years, Lauren Marchetti Robbins; his mother, Jean Singleton Robbins; three sisters, Alice Howard, her husband Ed and their children Heather, Hunter and Hilary; Martha Pierce and her children, Robbin and Lonny; and Edith Glenn, her husband, David, and their children Leigh and George. Though quiet by nature, Joe had a wide circle of friends, neighbors and their children, who very much were family to him.
Joe served a 30-year career with the State of North Carolina. For the last 11 years he served as an administrator with the Governor Morehead School for the Blind. He was dedicated to public service, serving as chair of the Orange County Board of Social Services, president of Volunteers for Youth and Chair of the Board of Friends of Orange County Social Services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice. the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.cremationsocietync.com.