William K. Robbins, Jr. age 85, of Russellville died Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center.  He was born September 15, 1936, to William Kline and Wanda Screechfield Robbins in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and grew up in Fort Smith.

He loved his Lord, family, and friends – and planes, trains, and automobiles – and was one of those blessed individuals who lived his dreams.

He knew from a very young age what he wanted to do and worked diligently to attain his goals.  He drove his first Locomotive at the age of eight and was enamored with railroads from then on.  After graduating high school, he learned he also loved airplanes (oh, the stories!) He received his pilot's license and became an airplane mechanic.  In the meantime, he and his first wife, Ann raised three boys.  A devout Christian, Bill insisted the boys have a biblical name.

Bill was one of the first 100 of the 184 ^th Technial Reconnaissance Wing of the Arkansas National Air Guard in Fort Smith.  He never lost that dream of having his own railroad, and after working on the Rock Island (oh, the stories!)  Bill learned in 1987 that the D&R Railroad was for sale.  With the support of a few and the doubts of many, he borrowed $3,500.00 and grew the "Dardanelle Dinky" into Arkansas Short Line Railroads: The Dardanelle and Russellville (D&R), the Ouachita (El Dorado), the Camden & Southern (Camden), and the North Louisiana & Arkansas (Lake Village) along with proving services to other rail entities.  His wife, TJ (Teresa Jamell) designed a shirt for him that said, "we put the 'oooh in choo-choo" (but he declined to wear it).

Both Bill and TJ had a love of old cars and they soon thought of them as potato chips – you can't have just one.  During this time a '27 Chevy Capital Roadster, a '41 Packard business coupe, a '53 Packard Mayfair convertible, a '55 Packard land yacht, a '61 Studebaker Silverhawk, a '64 Thunderbird convertible, a '66 Thunderbird convertible, a '74 Mercedes 350 SL convertible, and an '83 Cadillac Eldorado convertible appeared at random times in their garages.  They all have names and adventures (oh, the stories!).

As the railroads continued to grow, Bill decided he wanted his sons off the danger of the highways, so he bought a plane, opened ASL Aviation and the boys learned to fly also! They continued to add to their aviation stable as well.

He became dear and loyal friends with Bert Mullins.  Rarely did a week go by that he didn't have a conversation with Bert, and they always caught up while meeting with Kiwanis.  He was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church, Gideons International, the Valley Antique Auto Club, the Packard Club, the SOB's (Sweet Old Buzzards), the coffee club of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was one of the few Rock Islanders left.  He was an ordained deacon and music director.  Bill was a former board member of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in the foundation of the Local Railroads of Arkansas and the Arkansas River Valley Intermodal Authority.

Bill had an enormous collection of railroad models, kits, and a huge layout in his basement that he knew he would never get to finish.  Bill and TJ loved to travel extensively.  They particularly loved getting lost in the mountains on back "roads" few people would try.  (Oh, the stories!)

Bill had a tremendous sense of humor.  TJ will never forget her first date with Bill.  He was driving around town and – as always – he was crossing the tracks that were rough muttered under his breath, "I wish the s.o.b. who owned this would fix these tracks."  She looked at him, paused and said, "I thought YOU were the s.o.b. who owned these."  He just laughed and kept on driving.

William Kline Robbins, Jr., was known by many names: WK, Bill, Choo-Choo, Dad, and many railroad nicknames not fit for publication.  Bill was a Christian, husband, father, historian, collector, prankster, and storyteller (oh, the stories!) he will be tremendously missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He leaves to remember him with love, his wife, TJ (Teresa Jamell); three sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy Kline and Kathleen of Russellville, Michael Albert and Lara of Eldorado, and Daniel Bryan and Sherri of Pottsville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Tonia Hurley and Joe of Russellville, and Ashley Matthews and Kenneth of San Antonio, Texas; his grandchildren, Joe Robbins of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Eden Robbins of Russellville, Noah Robbins of Lake Village, Shea and Tia Franklin of Pottsville, William and Sara Robbins of Eldorado and Samantha Hurley of Russellville; and a host of cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Shinn Chapel with the Rev. Larry Pettus officiating.  Burial will be private and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Gideons International- Russellville Camp, Post Office Box 1604, Russellville, Arkansas 72811-1604 or to the Russellville Animal Shelter, 3115 South Mobile Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72802.

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com.