Grafton Parker Robertson - Obituary

rafton Parker “Jack” Robertson died on Saturday, October 29, 2022 in Crofton, MD. Born on September 22, 1927 in Manassas, VA to the late Edward and Mamie Robertson, Jack acquired his nickname because he was in his crib crying while his dad and uncles were listening to the Jack Dempsey fight. He was crying because Jack Dempsey lost on a bad “long count” when he knocked the other fighter down. Jack was the youngest son of 15 children raised on a dairy farm in Manassas. He attended school through 8th grade then stopped to work on the dairy farm. Jack also worked at Sears Roebuck for a couple of weeks and lived on his brother, Buster’s couch for a time while working for him as a carpenter. His first car was a 1937 Dodge coupe that his dad bought and then traded for a 1949 Ford. In November 1950, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned initially to Ft. Hood, TX. During his 2 years of active duty, he also served in Germany to help keep the peace. Jack took a furlough in 1951 to marry his first wife, Delores Wheaton, with his brother, Clen standing beside them as best man. After being discharged from the Army, Jack worked at PEPCO for almost 35 years. Jack and Delores lived in an apartment in Washington, DC and then bought their first home in Oxon Hill, MD. Jack enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states. Over the years, there were many family vacations to Ocean City, Myrtle Beach, Florida, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. He most enjoyed visiting his folks or his siblings in Virginia. Jack attended great Robertson family reunions and pig roasts. He also visited and helped his Maryland families, the Leighs, the Wheatons and the Robertsons for holidays and get-togethers. He loved sports and was very competitive, playing volleyball and touch football on the street in front of his home. Jack especially loved history, was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards. He was a terrific gardener; he always had a garden at his home and would cook fresh kale and veggies. Jack also loved to hunt and his children would help him skin deer, squirrel and rabbit. Jack was known to be frugal and stubborn, like his dad, but was a blessing and helper to all. Jack and Delores were married 33 years until her death in 1984. They raised four children, Brenda A. Jasper, Terri R. Hensley, Mark J. Robertson and Patricia A. Jones. Jack was also blessed with seven grandchildren, Brandie, Chris, Nick, Jamie, Cody, Marley and Savanah; and 14 great-grandchildren including the newest addition, Grafton, all of whom knew Jack as “GeeDaddy”. After Delores’ death, Jack later married Frances Walker and extended his family to include his stepchildren, Pat, Karen, Bobby and Tina along with their children and grandchildren. Friends are invited to visit with Jack’s family at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, November 15 from 1 to 3 pm and from 5 pm until Jack’s funeral service begins at 6 pm in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will occur the following day at 12 noon at Stonewall Memorial Gardens in Manassas, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Platoon 22, PO Box 7023, Frederick, MD 21701 (platoon22.org) or the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield VA 22166-7023 (diabetes.org). Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.