FORMER VA. CONGRESSMAN KENNETH ROBINSON, 73, DIES WINCHESTER, VA. -- J. Kenneth Robinson, 73, a Republican who represented Virginia's 7th District in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1985, died of pancreatic cancer April 8 at his home here.
During his 14 years in Congress, he earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative who pushed for a strong defense. When he left the House, he was ranking Republican on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
He was fifth-ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee when he stepped down in January 1985. Over the years, he had concentrated on budgetary matters in the agricultural, defense and intelligence fields.
Mr. Robinson consistently received high ratings from conservative and Christian organizations. He became regarded as one of the most loyal followers of the House Republican leadership.
He did not run for reelection in 1984, citing health problems brought on by high blood pressure. Since leaving politics, he had been devoting himself to family business interests in the Winchester area.
Mr. Robinson's district ran from the northern suburbs of Richmond across the Shenandoah Mountains to Winchester. It also came to include western Prince Willliam County, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Mr. Robinson was a native of Frederick County, Va., and graduated from Virginia Technical University with a degree in horticulture in 1937. He then joined the family orchard business. During World War II, he served in the Army and attained the rank of major.
In 1965, he went to the state Senate, taking the seat that Harry F. Byrd Jr. resigned when he was appointed to the U.S. Senate. Mr. Robinson won a four-year term in 1967, then resigned when he was elected to Congress in 1970. He succeeded Democrat John O. Marsh Jr., who retired. Mr. Robinson had lost a close race against Marsh for the seat in 1962.
Mr. Robinson had been a member of the Dulles International Airport Development Commission in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was a past president of the Virginia Horticulture Society, the Frederick County Fruit Growers and the Winchester Rotary Club.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Kathryn Rankin Robinson of Winchester; three sons, D.M. Patrick Robinson, James Rankin Robinson and John Kelly Robinson, all of Winchester; three daughters, Keveney R. Furst of Bellefonte, Pa., Helen Ray Robinson of Tucson and Sallie Langley Robinson of Old Greenwich, Conn.; a brother, Ray Robinson Jr. of Winchester; and seven grandchildren.
FORMER VA. CONGRESSMAN KENNETH ROBINSON, 73, DIES