Mabel Ruth Robinson, a resident of Pine Ridge Extended Care Center, died of natural causes on Jan. 14 at age 95.
Mabel was born Jan. 30, 1919, in Convoy, Ohio, to Walter David Wise and Susie Mae Wise (Sheets). Mabel was the youngest of four children, Clarence, Lewis and Edna, all of whom predeceased her. Mabel grew up in a farming community where she “hunkied” beets, shot an occasional skunk and ran muskrat trap lines. She graduated from Convoy High School.
In 1939, Mabel married Everett A. “Robbie” Robinson Jr. During the 1940s and 1950s, she drove herself and two young sons thousands of miles, crisscrossing the United States following Robbie’s career as a professional minor league baseball player and manager. They eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Mabel worked as an administrative assistant for several doctors’ offices. She and Robbie raised a family and enjoyed the remaining time of their 55 years of marriage. The couple traveled twice to Europe on extended vacation tours. Closer to home, they cherished numerous stays at the famed Grand Hotel on Michigan’s Mackinac Island. Robbie died in 1994 in Colorado.
From 1993 until 2010, Mabel resided in Littleton, Colo., at the RiverPointe Senior Community. It was there that she eventually met her friend and companion, John Hannon, who also preceded her in death.
Having played basketball in high school, Mabel was a lifelong fan of the sport. Upon her move to Pagosa Springs four years ago, she followed the fortunes of the Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirates’ basketball team. Mabel also became a member of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. Prior to moving into Pine Ridge 18 months ago, Mabel lived independently and enjoyed activities and friends at the Archuleta County Senior Center.
Mabel is survived by her sons Everett A. “Ed” Robinson III and his wife, Karla, of Pagosa Springs, and Stanley Lewis Robinson and his wife Kay, of Buckeye, Ariz. She is survived by one grandson, Patrick Everett Robinson and his wife Stephanie, of Orlando, Fla., and one great-grandchild, Savannah Jayde Robinson. In addition, she is survived by stepgrandsons David and Robert Gleich, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; she treated them both as though they were kin.
A memorial service was held at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church on Jan. 20.
Interment, a date not yet determined, will be at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, where Mabel will be buried alongside her husband Robbie, who was a combat veteran of WWII.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and designated to the Loaves and Fishes fund. Mabel was a true servant and believed in helping others.
