George William Robinson

George William Robinson passed away on December 30, 2025. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, he was preceded in death by his foster daughter, Sherrie Thompson; his parents, Bill and Willa Robinson; and his brother David, who died in childhood. George is survived by brothers Milford (Sue Hildebrandt) and Mark (Nancy Lander), many nieces, nephews, cousins, and chosen families­ — including the extended Thompson family; Justine Muhoza and sons Olivier and Fabrigace; and the Mary and Kay Okunato family.

During the 1970s, while working in the Methodist Hospital Children’s Pavilion, George met five-year-old Sherrie Thompson, a victim of a hit-and-run accident that left her scarred for life. George became her foster parent, remaining in her life as her advocate and chosen father until her death.

An outstanding athlete and avid sports fan, George became the Athletic Director of the youth sports program at First Baptist Athletics in 1989, where he developed the “Campaign for Sportsmanship” and originated the motto: “The Place for Good Sports” — which came to represent the very essence of the program.

Upon his retirement in 2013, George became a tutor, mentor, and chosen “granddude” to a number of special kids in his life. Children were instinctively drawn to George, and he was beloved by the thousands who passed through the FBA program.

A scholar, poet, and writer, George was inspired to write a biography of the renowned pediatric heart surgeon Dr. John Brown, the creative project to which he dedicated the last few years of his life.

George will be interred next to his daughter Sherrie, his parents, and other family members in Washington Park Cemetery in Indianapolis.

George believed in the innate dignity of all people and that his Christian faith demanded caring for the least of these. His wide-ranging spiritual studies made compassion, kindness, and love his guiding light. He was a guiding light to us all.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in George's memory to First Baptist Music Fund or First Baptist Church Athletics.