Jerry Robertson, 83, of Burlington passed away at Twin Lakes Retirement Community on Monday, June 7, 2021.
 
A native of Alamance County, he was the husband of Jeanne Swanner Robertson, who survives and the son of Swanson Robertson and Ruby Buff Robertson, both deceased.
 
Mr. Robertson was President of the Class of '55 at Walter Williams High School and received a scholarship to Duke University. Four years later he graduated from Duke where he was Captain of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team. He earned his Master’s Degree and Doctorate of Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After several years, Jerry retired as an educator and went into the propane gas business with Green’s Fuel Gas Company in Alamance County and around the state. Later he became President of the North Carolina Propane Gas Association.
 
Jerry loved sports and was always appreciative for the opportunities he was given through athletics. Any time he wasn’t traveling with his wife for her business, he was attending whatever sporting events were being held at Elon University. He loved getting to know the Elon Athletes and watching them grow over four years. He was honored with Elon’s prestigious Elon Medallion for his contributions to the University and to Elon Athletics specifically. He enjoyed competing in the local, state and national senior games for years in badminton, winning Gold Medals repeatedly in singles and in doubles with Dr. Alan White. He also won Mixed Doubles with Penny Butler and Dr. Janie Brown in the State Games. He loved time spent with his golfing buddies.
 
Jerry enjoyed “paying back” and encouraging young people. He spent as much time as needed to teach not only his son and grandsons, but also young people in the neighborhood who wanted to learn to play all the sports he played.
 
In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, Walter B. “Beaver” Bowline, III of Cumming, GA; two grandsons, Ryder Monroe Bowline of Fredericksburg, VA and Gray Swanner Bowline, a rising senior at Elon; and many nieces and nephews as well as a grandniece and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Ginger Robertson Campbell.
 
Jerry was a member of Front Street United Methodist Church, but grew up spending hours at Kinnett Memorial Baptist Church next to his grandmother’s house. A memorial service will be conducted at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. Larry Williams, Jerry’s best friend in high school. The family will receive friends at 1pm, preceding the memorial service. A private graveside service will be held in Linwood Cemetery.
 
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice, particularly to groups such as Peg’s PJ’s (pegspjs.com) 2228 Walker Avenue, Burlington 27215 or to any charity that benefits young people in Alamance County in any way.
 
Jerry's family will forever be appreciative to the people associated with Twin Lakes, Moneta Springs, for the care, love and kindness extended to our loved one during the last stage of his life. God has a special place in Heaven for caregivers.
 
Locally, Mr. Robertson was called “Jerry.” Across the country and even the world, he will always be referred to as “Left Brain.” He never failed to respond with a big smile when he heard either. Jerry Robertson was a happy person and he made others happy.  He was very loved and will be greatly missed.