Edward “Ed” Stanley Robbins III passed away peacefully on November 3, 2023, at his home in Florence, Alabama surrounded by his four loving daughters. Ed was 92 years old. He was born in 1931 and grew up in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He attended Deshler High School, making many lifelong friends there and meeting Miss Mary Lou Underwood, his wife of 67 years. Mom was Dad’s biggest encourager. The best way to describe our parents is that she truly was the wind beneath his wings. She supported him through every business, every endeavor, every sport, and if you knew them personally, you know this to be true.
Ed Robbins was a very successful entrepreneur. He started out in the early 1950’s, working for his dad alongside his two brothers Harvey and John at Robbins Tire and Rubber. In 1960, he was instrumental in helping his father start Nafco. In 1966, he ventured out on his own and started Intervinyls. Ed grew Intervinyls into the E.S. Robbins Corporation, combining it with two other companies that he dreamed up and turned into realities— Aleco, an industrial door company and Centaur Fencing. In the 1970’s, Ed became one of the top innovators and world leaders in the plastics and office product industries. He was granted over 184 patents in his lifetime and the company he built is still going strong today. He loved saying that E.S. Robbins is “Where Imagination Becomes Reality” and almost everyone who worked for him has heard that quote. Ed and Mary Lou both took great pride in employing and supporting hundreds of families over the last 57 years. Our family is still so appreciative of all the wonderful people who have worked for our father these many years. Our parents traveled the world for both business and pleasure, but they especially loved opening their home and entertaining business associates, friends and especially their family of four daughters, nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
One of Ed’s passions was his beloved horses. Centaur Fencing was actually started after he saw a thoroughbred injured by a wooden fence. He created a more horse-friendly fence and tested it himself on his test farm in Elgin, Alabama. In that same year, 1982, Ed formed Bluewater Creek Polo Club. It was on that beautiful expanse of green that our family and friends shared so many happy memories together. Mary Lou cooked and transported hundreds of meals down to the farm and we celebrated birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holidays. We cheered for Polo players from all over the world who started out as friends and became like family. Ed played Polo for over forty years. At the age of 87, he was deemed the world’s oldest Polo player by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Our Daddy loved the outdoors. He loved being outside with his Jack Russell dogs who were his constant companions in his older years. Nothing made him happier than playing Polo with Juddy and Teena or playing tennis with Nanette and Ashlee. He also loved hunting with his birddogs, and we will be retelling his sporting stories and life adventures the rest of our lives. When we asked our dad if he had anything left on his bucket list, he replied “I did it all.” We will remember his passion for life, his wonderful sense of adventure and how well he loved us.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents Edward Stanley Robbins and Elise Skinner; Mary Lou Robbins, his loving wife of 67 years; his brothers Harvey Robbins and John Robbins, and two beautiful granddaughters, Mary Grace Tucker and Hannah Tucker.
Ed is survived by his four daughters, Lisa (Felix) Morris; Teena (Mike) Speer; Nanette Cassady and Edy (John) Carlton; a sister, Rudy Pillow, and a brother Rodney Robbins; his seven grandchildren, Claire (Jay) Daziel; Drury (Sumati) Morris; John David (Fran) Tucker; Victor (Lindsay) Rogers; Ben Morris; Chelsey Rogers; and Judson (Grace) Carlton. At the time of his passing, Ed was also blessed with 11 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank his wonderful caregivers, Ashlee, Dianne and Clarissa. We also give a special thanks to Dr. David Hollis for the many years of care he provided for our father.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 7th at 11:00 at the Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia.
Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
