JOHN IRVINE ROBESON, Age 78, a resident of Sikeston, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 13, 1930 in Detroit, Mich., to the late James Erwin and Mary Alice Bryant Robeson, he was a 1948 graduate of Charleston High School where played football on the team that had one of the schools most winning records. After High School, he embarked on a 20 year career with the United States Navy where his service began at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, Ca. and took him around the world. He served aboard the USS WITEK (DDE 848); at the Naval Operating Base in the Canal Zone; aboard the USS AMC-12; the USS Rodman (DMS 21); with the New York Group Atlantic Reserve Fleet, NSD at Bayonne, New Jersey; aboard the USS Pritchett (DD 561); at the Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington; aboard the USS F.D. Roosevelt (CVA 42); at the Naval Air Training Center at Memphis, Tennessee; with the Destroyer Division 192 at Long Beach, California; in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; and with the Capitol Police at The White House in Washington, D.C. After his retirement from the Navy, he returned to Southeast Missouri in 1972 where he made his home in Sikeston. He then became employed as Captain of the Guards with Noranda Oil Rig and later the Sedco Company where he served in many capacities related to their off shore drilling, both here in the United States and Internationally. Of the Baptist Belief, he had attended the Cornerstone Church at Bertrand.

On September 20, 1957, at Bertrand, he married Betty Jean Wilkerson, who survives of the home.

Also surviving are: one son, James Edward Robeson of Sikeston; one daughter and son in law, Cindy Lee and Dee Lambert of Benton, Mo.; one daughter in law, Nina Robeson of Sikeston; one sister, Betty Jean Wotten of Pontoon Beach, Ill.; five grandchildren, Jonathan Cooper and Christopher Cooper of Benton, Mo.; Dillon Robeson, Alyssa Robeson and Monica Robeson all of Sikeston; two great grandchildren, Alex and Analora both of Sikeston;

His extended family includes many special relatives including, sister in law and brother in law, Penny and Pete Oliver of Sikeston; sisters in law, Trudy Lindsey Parker of Charleston; Sue (Gabby) Hodge of Bertrand and Judy and Galan Williams of Jackson. A very special aunt in the family, Mag Wilkerson Lindsey of Charleston; seven nieces, six nephews and a number of great nieces and nephews.

One son, John Steven Robeson, preceded him in death.

Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, June 11, 2009 at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston where funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 12, 2009. Rev. David Cullen, pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Bertrand, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery with full military rites provided by the United States Navy and the Missouri Military Honors Program. Arrangements are under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston