David Wilford Robinson

David Wilford Robinson was surrounded by his loving family as he passed away on February 27, 2025. Dave was born August 1, 1948 to Wilford and Maleta Robinson in Logan, Utah. He was raised in Laketown, Utah where he learned hard work and dedication, growing up on the family farm. He played on all the high school sports teams and liked to tell everyone that he graduated in the top 5 of his class, conveniently leaving out that there were only 6 students in his class. He was the first Eagle Scout in Laketown, UT, and served a two year mission in Argentina. 

Dave met his sweetheart, Debra Jo Manning while attending Utah State University, studying to be an electronic technician. They were sealed in the Logan Temple on March 13, 1972. Their first son Shon was born in Logan shortly before their graduation. Dave joined the US Air Force ROTC and trained to become a pilot during the Vietnam War. After graduation he began his full time service in the Air Force, taking his little family to Biloxi, Mississippi, Del Rio, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was honorably discharged and settled in the Salt Lake City, Utah area where their family was completed with the addition of Angie, Kristie and Jason. 

Dave worked the majority of his professional career for Evans & Sutherland and enjoyed the cutting edge technology of the day repairing 3-D simulators used to train NASA, military, and commercial pilots. He loved working on complex equipment and problem solving. He retired in 2014 after 35 years of service.

There were always multiple projects going on at Dave’s house and dozens more happening in his mind. Dave’s superpower was the ability to fix and create, giving MacGyver a run for his money. If something was broken Dave would figure out how to fix it himself rather than call a repairman. Dave took incredible joy in his building projects and inventions which included a custom molded fiberglass slide into a tiny pool with a fountain, rope swings too many to count at campgrounds across Utah, swimming pools made of plywood and giant sheets of plastic held up with 50 gallon drums, and of course the infamous dunk tank secured by a pair of vice grips. He loved to plan and took it upon himself to organize neighborhood parties which Debbie would facilitate by providing watermelon, homemade root beer or other fun treats.

Dave spent lots of time planning and organizing which helped him as he served many years helping his church community throughout his adult years in Taylorsville, West Valley, Centerville, and Kaysville as a missionary, high Counselman, cubmaster, bishop and teacher.

He is survived by his wife Debbie, children Shon (JuliAnne) of Kimberly, ID, Angela (Brian) of Houston, TX, Kristie (Anthony) of Fort Walton Beach, FL and Jason (Alexandra) of Kaysville, UT, 19 grandchildren, siblings Judy (John) of Centerville, UT and George (Marion) of Rock Hill, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Doug (Susan) of Heber, UT. Dave was excited to welcome his first great-grandchild in May. 

The family invites all to gather to celebrate the life of Dave on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 Main St, Kaysville, Utah. Family and friends may visit Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary prior to the service.

The Celebration of Life will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of David’s obituary page at www.lindquistmortuary.com