Dr. Roy L. Robbins DMD
August 19, 1946 - August 8, 2019
Roy Lester Robbins, age 72, passed away on August 8, 2019 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Roy was born on August 19, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, to Lester Robbins and Edna (Nelson) Robbins. He served our country in the Air Force during Viet Nam from 1966 to 1970. While stationed in Utah, he fell in love with Rexene June Catmull; they married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 12, 1969. This is the 50th year of their storybook marriage.
He graduated from BYU and the Washington University in St. Louis School of Dental Medicine. Roy was an Army dentist from 1978 to 1993, and the owner of All-Care Family Dentistry in Colorado Springs from 1993 to 2015.
Roy was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many positions.
Roy is survived by his loving wife; his children: Lisa Robbins (Tom) Anderson, Lori Melissa (David) Weller, Christina Joy Robbins, Donald Roy (Suzie) Robbins, and Debra Helena (Kellen) DeAlba; his grandchildren: Madison, Cameron, Ava, Christian, Benjamin, Evelyn, Esmeralda, Quetzalli, James, Austin, and Joseph. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Beverly Nagy, Harry Robbins, and Karoline Stoker.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 16, 2019 at the Berg Drawing Room Chapel, 185 East Center Street, Provo, Utah. Friends may visit with the family from 9-9:50 a.m. prior to services. Interment will follow at the Provo City Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 24, 2019 at the Broadmoor Chapel, 150 Pine Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A TRIBUTE
How do you capture the larger-than-life image of a great man in words? Descriptions that would seem like hyperbole in describing lesser men seem inadequate when it comes to Roy.
Roy was intelligent.
People trusted his great knowledge and abilities as a dentist who was able to relate to people of all ages and make them comfortable. Most people don’t put dentists in the company of their favorite people, but in Roy’s case, he was often at the top of the list. Patients called him a “Painless Dentist,” and would drive or fly from other states after they moved.
Roy was caring.
You could almost see his tender heart beating when he looked at Rexene, his beautiful wife. His love for children and grandchildren shone like a ray of sun. I suppose that’s why he often wore yellow, the color of sunshine and happiness. He radiated warmth and love.
Roy was beach-boy handsome, with his golden hair and strong, athletic build.
At no other time were those qualities, his good looks and graceful strength, so apparent than when he danced with Rexene. Together they polished the floor with grace and flamboyance, and not just in dance halls. Every evening they enjoyed a sweet, tender dance before they retired. Sometimes they waltzed, but more often than not, they boogied to the beat of “Rockin’ Robin,” or “Rockin’ Robbins,” as Roy called it.
Roy was humble.
With all his natural gifts, he was never one to take himself too seriously. Always more about others than himself, he was willing to work behind the scenes to serve those around him; he was not one to seek the spotlight for successes that could have only come about through his diligence and attention to details. It’s no wonder that he was a beloved seminary teacher—far better than any sermon was his example.
Roy was patriotic.
It takes a special kind of person to sign on for a career-length Army tour after already serving in the Air Force during the Viet Nam war, but Roy’s life choices always reflected love and gratitude for his country.
Roy was funny.
A master of irony and quips, his dry sense of humor kept those around him smiling. Who else would demonstrate the proper care of teeth by brushing the incisors of a giant stuffed hippopotamus?
Roy was intelligent and caring. He was handsome, humble, and patriotic. He was also funny. Roy was all of these things and more.
Most of all, Roy was a child of God. He loved his Heavenly Father and did his best throughout his life to emulate and follow Him. In doing so, he became a great father himself. His beautiful, strong posterity is his legacy.
But knowing Roy, he would probably give all the credit to his sweetheart Rexene, who was, indeed, his loving and equal partner through a fairy-tale life spanning more than 50 years.
Together, they ARE a matching team, eternally paired to bring out the best in their family and in each other. There is no past tense in that. The Plan of Salvation is real, and Roy has gone ahead to live it right now.
Roy, you deserve to “Rest in Peace,” but we know you are too busy preparing for the day when your family will join you in the hereafter.
And you’re probably entertaining the angels with a few one-liners, too.
-By lifetime family friend, Sharon Nauta Steele
