Robert C. Rawlings, age 89, of Kincheloe, Mich. died August 11, 2014 at the Hospice House of the EUP.
Robert was born in Detroit, August 4, 1925. As a youngster he played trombone on the Detroit Boblo tour boat. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 and participated in bringing back the World War II troops on the air carrier Casablanca based out of San Francisco. That may be where his love of aircraft started. He eventually became a mail transporter taking the mail up to Sault Ste. Marie from Mackinaw City and then settled in the “Soo”. C.G. Sanderson was his flight instructor. After obtaining his pilots license he took off from there by starting an air charter service with a Seabee next to Welch’s dock taking many locals and visitors on their first airplane ride over the Soo Locks. He also worked at the Radar Base where he maintained the radar equipment on the midnight shift and operated City Limits Auto Parts Junkyard during the day. He operated the junkyard from 1953 until October of 2013. He raced when there was a dirt track on 3 mile and also at many of the dirt tracks in and around Soo, MI and Soo, Ontario. His race car had the number “77” and Rollin “Bob” Rawlings on the side of it. He and his buddies had many adventures flying; scuba diving on wrecks; salvaging and demolishing buildings. Robert worked hard and played hard. He was a member of the Faith Baptist Church of Dafter.
He is survived by his wife Mary Rawlings and her children Mary (Harold) Sorrel, James Soles and Veronica Morris. Ex-wife Lillian Rawlings and their children Ruth (Darien) Neveu, John (Vicki) Rawlings and Julia (Brian Staley) Rawlings. Son Robert Rawlings. Grandchildren Sabrina and Rebecca Neveu; Renee, Natalie and Michael Fecteau; Chantel, Gavin and Camden Sorrel; Brandy Lewis; Frankie and Ashley Doyle; Mary, Alana and Elvis Morris; and Leeann Yirrs. Also 6 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at C.S. Mulder Funeral Home. Friends may gather at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
The family of Robert Rawlings appreciates donations on Robert’s behalf to those that wish to do so be made to Hospice of the EUP, 308 West 12th Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.
Condolence may be left online at www.csmulder.com.