Robert Charles Binnion Jr., 86, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 11, 2014.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janie; daughters, Alexa (Frank) MacPherson, and Anne Binnion Farbstein; grandsons, Ian, Jesse, and Max; granddaughters, Jennifer, Leah, and Marlee.
Binnion was born on Oct. 20, 1927, in San Marcos, Texas, the son of Robert C. and Evelyn Schutts Binnion, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Schutts of Forth Worth, Texas.
Binnion, a graduate of R. L. Paschal High School, Fort Worth, studied engineering at North Texas Agricultural College before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated with the class of 1950.
Upon graduation he married his hometown sweetheart, Janie Cotten, and was assigned to destroyer duty aboard USS Bausell DD845. He saw action during the Korean War and was subsequently assigned to the staff of Vice Admiral Frank G. Fahrion, Commander Amphibious Forces Atlantic Fleet.
Binnion left the Navy in 1954 and joined The Trane Company, of La Crosse, Wisc., manufacturing engineers of heating, air conditioning, and special heat transfer equipment, serving first in sales in Dallas, Texas, and later in the home office.
In 1960, he left Trane’s employment to establish Binnion Trane Associates, in Philadelphia, Penn., representing Trane in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. Binnion Trane was purchased by the Trane Company in 1983 and the Binnions relocated to Banner Elk, N.C., and La Romana, Dominican Republic.
In 1990, they relocated permanently to Vero Beach. Binnion was active in business and civic affairs serving on the Executive Committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and various boards. He was a member of The Union League, the American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers, and a Past President of Waynesboro Country Club. Binnion served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Grandfather Home for Children, North Carolina and was a Charter Member of Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Binnion’s honor may be made to Grandfather Home for Children, P.O. Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604 or VNA Hospice House, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach. There will be a reception to follow, welcome to all friends and family, at Quail Valley River Club, 2345 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963.
An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
