In Memory of Dale W. Robison (August 20, 1933 – October 31, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Dale W. Robison died on October 31, 2021, at the age of 88.
Dale was born on August 20, 1933, in Erie, PA to Marie Anna Van Buren and George W. Robison. He attended his first five years of grammar school in Pennsylvania. During World War II, his family moved to California where he continued his public- school education through one year of college.
In 1951, Dale enlisted in the US Navy and served for four years until 1955. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he entered Wheaton College, IL graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in 1959 (cum laude). Dale then continued his graduate education at Colgate Rochester Divinity School, NY, and received his Master of Divinity degree (1963). He became an ordained minister in the American Baptist Convention and served increasingly more responsible positions between 1961 and 1970. As he was serving as a minister in a suburban church near Milwaukee, he became aware that his views had shifted to a liberal point of view which was inconsistent with the beliefs and practices of his denomination. In August of 1970, he resigned from his ministerial position. At that point he was not yet ready to move into Unitarianism, instead, he accepted a National Defense Education Act Fellowship in history at Marquette University, WI to work on a Ph.D.
Although Dale had been a religious liberal for several years, it was only in the UU pulpit where he found freedom to honestly express his religious faith and doubts. He was captivated by the tradition of UU ministry. He found acceptance, understanding, and critical listening in the UU churches, and felt at home with the UU people. After completing his doctoral work and his dissertation (Wisconsin and the Mentally Ill: A History of the Wisconsin Plan of State and County Care, 1850-1915), he ultimately made the decision that he had been postponing, to return to the parish ministry as a Unitarian Universalist.
Rev. Dr. Robison began as a part-time minister at the Mequon Unitarian Church North, WI, and led the church to a full-time ministry. Mequon doubled its membership during his tenure of seven years (1975-1982). Under his guidance and with the support of church leaders, the church launched a publicity program in newspapers and on local radio. From a membership of 75 to 151, Sunday attendance increased, as well as pledging units. Rev. Dr. Robison worked closely with the religious education committee in curriculum planning, church school staffing, and teacher training. He was also a part of the site selection for a permanent home for the congregation and assisted in a capital fund drive to underwrite the purchase of five acres on North Port Washington Road. In 1982, Rev. Dr. Robison accepted a call from the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI, and served until 1985. His achievements at the Milwaukee congregation included the attraction of young couples to the church, the launching of a Restoration Committee to refurbish the building for the 150th anniversary of the congregation, and the one-hundredth of the building.
Subsequently, Rev. Dr. Robison served as an interim minister at the Shawnee Mission UU Church, Lenexa, KS (1985-1987). His advice and recommendations were most helpful to the congregation and his sermons were focused on congregational growth. From 1987 to 1990, he was a settled minister at the UU Church of Muncie, IN, and then an interim minister at the Greenville UU Fellowship in Greenville, SC (1990-1992). He served the UU Fellowship of Silver City, NM for a year (1999-2000), as their first minister.
In addition to his parish and interim ministries, Rev. Dr. Robison was a member of the UUMA; and a member and president of the Central Midwest District UUMA. He was a board member of the UU Fellowship of Silver City, NM (2000); and served on the board and Nominating Committee for the Central Midwest District UUA. In addition, he helped edit and write the introduction for God and the Commonplace by John Cyrus. It was published in January 1986 by Coronet Press, Milwaukee.
In the community, Dale was a member of the Greater Milwaukee Conference on Religion and Urban Affairs. He was a member and served on board for the Milwaukee Chapter of the Planned Parenthood Association. Furthermore, he served as a member of Milwaukee County Historical Society; as a Board Member of the Healthy Older People Program, Muncie District, IN (1987-1989), and as head of the Ethics Committee, Muncie, IN (1987-1989). He lectured at the Milwaukee campus of the University of Wisconsin on courses such as “American Thought and Culture” “Religion in America, a Contemporary Overview;” and “Introduction to the Helping Professions”.
In his spare time, Dale loved cycling. He had cycled across Wisconsin, Iowa, and a large portion of Michigan with a group of local Unitarians called Unicyclers. He also enjoyed cross-country skiing and frequent walks during cold months. He was a season ticket holder of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater for twenty years.
Dale is survived by his brother Daniel Robison, his sister Marjorie Fiorina, and Beverly Robison, wife of his deceased brother Bill Robison. His brother Harold Robison
predeceased him. He is also survived by his daughters Heather Roon and Laura Ammann. His grandsons, Quenton and Kellen Ammann. He predeceased his three former spouses: Karen Robison, Lynn De Angeles Robison, and Tara Gray. He also leaves his stepdaughter’s family: Angie and Krystof Kurzya and step-granddaughter Vivian Kurzya.
The Memorial Service took place at 2 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2021, at 3011 Buena Vida Cir, Las Cruces, NM 88011. An Honor Guard Ceremony will follow at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 1251 N. Roadrunner, Las Cruces, NM 88011 at 5 pm. RSVP to heatheroon@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dale’s name may be made to the Roundtable at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, 2000 S. Solano, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001. Please make checks out to the church and specify Roundtable in the memo line.