Floyd Robertson was born in Glenwood, Ark., on February 14, 1915. He was the fourth of six children born to Robert H. Robertson and Willia Adaline Wood. His father was a sharecropper and their home was little more than a two room cabin. Floyd was a good student and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class, a class of just three. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school. Floyd entered the Navy on his 21st birthday. Floyd's first tour of duty was in San Diego, Calif. One Sunday Floyd decided to stop by the First Baptist Church in San Diego. At the service Pastor John Bunyan Smith spoke and to hear Floyd tell it "spoke to me alone even though there were hundreds of other people there." It was at that service Floyd entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Dawson Trotman, who founded the Navigators, attended the church. Floyd was blessed to be taken under Trotman's wing and was a charter member of the Navigators. Through the church he met a girl named Kathryn Constans Beard who helped this country boy polish up his speaking skills. Floyd was aboard ship in Iceland when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. Kathryn agreed to meet him in Boston for two weeks while the ship was in port. They were married in Boston, Mass., on April 4, 1942. Early in his Naval career he become a yeoman, an office manager who handles clerical duties. Floyd studied and worked hard, making his way up the ranks. When he became an Ensign he would be known as a "mustang," one who joined as an enlisted man and achieved the rank of an officer. Later Floyd was transferred to the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. There Floyd and Kathryn had two children, Nathan and Kathleen. During his time in the Navy, Floyd stayed active with the Navigators and started what is now known as the Officers' Christian Fellowship (OCF). He led numerous Bible studies and with his wife Kathryn was instrumental in the founding of Alexandria Presbyterian Church. In 1950 they were transferred to Paris, France, where Floyd was part of General Eisenhower's staff starting NATO after the war. The next year their third child Bruce was born. After a tour of duty in Naples, Italy, they returned to the Pentagon in 1952 where they lived in Virginia. Floyd's last Navy tour was in San Diego, Calif. Sadly, Kathryn died of cancer there in 1957 leaving Floyd with three young children. By the time Floyd retired from the Navy after 22 years he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He had demonstrated such skill that he had been a personal secretary to Admiral Nimitz and Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations. He retired as Flag Secretary for Amphibious Naval Operations in the Pacific. A year after Kathryn died Floyd married Avis L. Nelson, known as Lauralie, a Navy nurse on May 3, 1958, in San Diego, Calif. They moved to San Jose, Calif., where he and Lauralie had their first child, Michelle. In 1960 he was asked by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to lead the Chaplains Commission. He accepted and they then moved to Annandale, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C. Floyd served with the NAE for the next 20 years. He was instrumental in starting the Christian Military Fellowship (CMF) and he worked extensively with the Chief of Chaplains for each branch of the military. He was also the Director of the Office of Public Affairs for NAE, making him a frequent visitor on Capitol Hill. He personally met 10 U.S. Presidents, Truman through Clinton. In 1976 the NAE named him Layman of the Year. In Annandale Floyd and Lauralie helped found the National Evangelical Free Church (now known as Cornerstone). A son, Lloyd, was born giving Floyd a total of five children. Floyd and Lauralie lived in Annandale until 2000 when they moved to the Cross Keys Village Brethren Home Community in New Oxford. Floyd became a fixture of the Community, known for his daily one or two mile walks, which he continued until this year. He wrote letters and emails prolifically, staying in close
touch with friends and family. Lauralie, his wife of 55 years, died in July 2013. Floyd recently celebrated his 99th birthday with all of his children and his two daughters-in-law in February 2014. Floyd Robertson died peacefully on May 1, 2014, of natural causes at the Brethren Home in New Oxford. Floyd is survived by five children and their spouses; 11 grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Alice Lodien, and a large extended family. On May 7, 2014, a memorial service was held at the Cross Keys Brethren Home and he was buried in a private ceremony at the New Oxford Cemetery where he received full military honors. Donations to the Officers' Christian Fellowship can be made in memory of Floyd Robertson.
York Daily Record (PA) and York Dispatch, The (PA) - Thursday, May 15, 2014