Spotlight on Clarence Robinson of Our House of West Sandy
Posted by nate on July 11, 2011
Clarence Robinson was born July 14, 1919 in Alberta Canada. Clarence was married for 46 years and has 5 children and 15 grandchildren. Clarence likes driving to new places, and eating hamburgers. Clarence likes living at Our House because everytime someone comes into his room the staff always says “Hello Clarence”. Clarence looks forward to waking up each morning.
Clarence moved to Utah when he was a small boy and bought a home with a large piece of property. There was an orchard, barn, garages, horses, pigs, cows, chickens. Clarence had 5 brothers (3 still living) and 2 sisters, still living. His parents both died in the 60′s. Their land was eventually sold off in once acre lots. What use to be an orchard is now filled with homes. His home that he grew up in is still standing. It has been remodeled and was recently on the market. Clarence married Genevieve Johnson. Clarence was in the navy. They had 2 boys and 3 girls all still living and living in the Salt Lake Valley. Clarence was a carpenter by trade. He was building a house when a piece of steel was lodged in his right eye. This was in 1946. The doctors were afraid to remove if for fear of him losing his eye. So he has been blind in his right eye since 1946. The piece of steel is still in his eye. It was difficult adjustment for him. He never returned to being a carpenter. A friend gave him a job driving a truck at Clyde and Revely. He worked for them until he retired in the 80′s. He received awards for safety and perfect driving record. Clarence could see more with his one eye than most people see with two. He could still read the daily newspaper until the last 3 years. When Clarence was young he belonged to the Mount Riders Club and rode in parades and did horse shows. Clarence and Genevive were married in 1940. Genevive died in 1986. They were married in the Temple and did a lot of Temple work together. Clarence remarred in 1988 to Afton Holliday. They were married in the Temple and continued to work in it. Clarence’s health started to decline in 2000 and he moved in with his daughter Clair and her family.
He traveled with them to Colorado in 2002 for the wedding of his granddaughter. His daughter Clair was the only child who left Utah. So he traveled to New York, New Jersey, Florida, Colorado to visit them. Clair and family returned to Utah in 1999. Clarence went to almost all of his grandsons baseball games (Michael) Clair’s son. Clarence and Clair would be the only one’s sitting there in the rain and cold watching baseball. All the guy’s knew dad and would come over to say hello. He was using a walker at that time, we would have quite a hike sometimes, but he still went. One summer, I think 2002 we were playing at West High field- it was a young mens adult league. We had a double header, it turned out to be the hottest day of the hear 101 degrees. Clarence sat there and watched both games. The guy’s came and got him and put him in there dug out where they had a mist system. He seemed to really love it. Clair had to put Clarence in Our House of West Sandy in November 2007. He was no longer safe to be in her home, due to stairs.
Clarence seems very happy at Our House. He even still has a few days when he will laugh with some of the staff. Then there are some days he will give some of them a hard time. Nate and Our House provides a nice and “at home place”. For this I am very grateful.
Clarence is a kind and gentle man. Before his dementia he could tell you anything about any place. When I would bring my children to SLC to visit, they use to say to Grandpa “you should get paid by the Chamber of Commerce” you know something about everything. And he did.
May we all be blessed with the patience and compassion for those we love who no longer remember anything. And remember to treat them with dignity.
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