Joe Dan Robinson

Mr. Joe Dan Robinson age 85 of the Coke Community, passed away on Monday, October 1, 2012 in Tyler, He was born on November 3, 1926 in the Coke/Pleasant Grove Community to the late Idas E. and Zelma Deas Robinson. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon his release from the military, he began his career in Dallas in the hotel business. He served as manager of the Adolphus Hotel Cheffette for 17 years. He then joined the Cabana Hotel in Dallas as their purchasing agent. In 1966, he purchased the Coke store from his uncle Clarence Robinson and moved his family to his beloved boyhood home where he became an avid rancher and operated the country store. Upon selling the store, he then went on to become purchasing agent for Wood County Electric Cooperative where he retired after 22 years. He was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Quitman Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Rock Hill Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 55 years, Yvonne Mason Robinson in 2003; grandson, Brian Harris in 1999; two sisters, and four brothers. He is survived by daughters, Jolyn Harris and husband Richard of Coke, Deborah Speights and husband Bob of Mineola; grandsons, Rodney Harris of Tyler, Randall Speights of Mineola; one great-grandchild; and brother, Glenn Robinson of Coke.