“In their hearts, humans try to plan their course, but the Lord God establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16.9: Lt Commander Edward Franklin Robbins often quoted this verse in his final years – always knowing that God was always there walking beside him in all his trials and achievements. 

As a young boy born and raised in the rural farming community of Hardinsburg Kentucky, Ed had many dreams and aspirations, and he spent his life achieving most of them. Ed’s personal faith was influenced in early childhood by his mother Ada and a kindly teacher named Sister Robert Mary. As a seminarian in college, he studied theology at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer Indiana - a calling to serve God. He also spent a summer with the Trappist Monks at The Abby of Gethsemani. However, after finishing his theological studies and taking his vows, but just prior to ordination, he joined the U.S. Navy - with a calling to serve his country.

Ed’s life-long love of aviation first developed from stories his mother told him about the WWI Flying Aces with their courageous feats and from the many books and magazines he’d read. After graduating flight-training in Pensacola, Florida in the late 60's,  Ed achieved his dream of becoming a naval aviator. He qualified for landings on air craft carriers and later completed his Advanced Flight Training, receiving the distinguished ‘Wings of Gold insignia’. He flew special operations worldwide, taught at the Naval War College,  and he considered the high point of his Naval career when he was chosen to pilot The Pacific Fleet Commander, Four Star Admiral John (Jack) McCain Jr., (father of Senator John McCain).  Ed served for 20 years in the US Navy, retiring with honors. But soon after September 11, 2001 – he joined and served in the newly formed Department of Homeland Security – again to protect and serve.

Ed fell away from his faith for some years during his career in the Navy, as we all have done at times – but through the grace of God, he was able to regain his faith again and became of service to his fellow man. Ed would have celebrated 32 years of recovery in September - he so wanted to make it to that day. He found the love of his life, his soulmate Nancy in AA, whom he was married to for almost 30 years. They built their life together in the Bay area and had planned to retire in Hawaii. But in 2018, Ed was diagnosed with the terminal disease of Myasthenia Gravis, so they decided then to move to Port Hueneme, California where the weather was more temperate - as  it had always been their dream to find a place to live by the ocean where they always felt the presence of God.

What was special about Ed was that even in his darkest hours when he was in pain and despair, his FAITH and BELIEF in God never wavered. He was more worried about taking care of and praying for the people in his life than he was about his own failing body. He often joked that he had always wanted to be a monk when he was in seminary, and now in his illness and confinement that his wish was fulfilled. Ed’s spirituality and sharing of his story and faith inspired everyone who met and spoke with him.

In his final days Ed always talked about how blessed he was that God the Father never gave up on him and had given him a beautiful and most fulfilling life. God bless you Ed for sharing that life with us. 

Ed is survived by his wife Nancy Robbins, his  sister Elizabeth "Libby" Osbourne, his nephews Jeffrey Robbins and Bobby Osbourne, and niece Debbie Robbins.

A Mass will be held in his honor on September 13, 2025 at St Anthony's Catholic Church in Oxnard, CA. His remains will be interned at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

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