Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 06:06:57 :
Independent Journal
Sunday, September 23, 2001
ROBINSON, Edith Anne Ryan, 85, of San Geronimo Valley, passed away September 17, 2001. Neptune Society, Northern California, 415-898-1868.
Edith Anne Ryan Robinson
Edie Robinson, long time San Geronimo Valley Resident and community service activist, died of cancer at her home on Monday, September 17, 2001. She was 85.
Edie was born January 27, 1916 in Sheridan, Oregon and grew up in Vancouver, Washington. As a child, Edie was surrounded by a large, joyous family including her parents, two sisters, a brother, and numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles. She was outgoing and popular, yet stayed very close to her family. Her parents were active members of the Presbyterian church in Vancouver. Like her mother, Marie, Edie had a loving, upbeat personality and among other things became a consummate pie-maker, a skill which she applied throughout her life to the delight of those around her. She loved to travel and had an adventuresome spirit. When Edie and her sisters, cousins, and friends went to the river for a swim, it was always Edie who dove in first. She frequently took day trips to the beach and to Portland with her family. While in high school, she was taught by her aunt to knit.
Edie graduated from Fort Vancouver High School and Washington State University. She was the first in her family to graduate from college. She taught high school for two years and upon the outbreak of World War 2, she joined the U.S. Navy as a WAVE where she was stationed in Washington, D.C.
Edie married Brook Robinson (March 23, 1917 - December 12, 1967) in Vancouver in 1949 and eventually settled in San Geronimo Valley in 1958. She taught first through fourth grades for many years and eventually became Principal at the Inverness School. Edie was known for her flamboyant style and her generous spirit. She travelled to Europe with theater groups and was a volunteer in Mission at Sitka, Alaska for six years, working on the grounds at the Presbyterian's Sheldon Jackson College. She often returned to the Vancouver area to visit family and friends.
Edie was a pillar of the community in the Valley, and took her civic service seriously. She was a member of the San Geronimo Valley Planning Group and was the first recipient of the Edie Robinson Community Award, which will be perpetuated each year in her name. As an active Christian and member of the San Geronimo Valley Presbyterian Church for over 30 years, she housed a church-sponsored Vietnamese family for the better part of a year. She also opened her house to a Pastor for months when he and his family first came to the Valley. She served on the current Pastor-Seeking Committee until her death. She was the driving force in remodeling the Valley Presbyterian Church where her own philanthropy knew no bounds. Edie was a member of the Session (governing body) for years and also for many years read papers of Seminary students who were candidates for the ministry. She was the church's fundraising Holly Fair Chairman for many years and topped her blackberry pie making at 90 pies one year. She also actively participated in the every other Friday morning church cleanup. Besides these activities, she knit constantly, often while reading or talking on the phone at the same time.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Brook, and brother, Fred Ryan. She is survived by her two sisters, Eleanor Leaver of Seattle, Washington and Marjorie Worthington of Springfield, Missouri, and by seven nieces and nephews (Fred Ryan, Jr. of Vancouver, Washington, Suzanne Ryan Roberts of Portland, Oregon, Kay Worthington of Salem, Oregon, Julie Linder of Springfield, Missouri, Jim Worthington of Sacramento, Greg Leaver of Seattle, Washington, and David Leaver of Los Altos, California).
Services will be held at San Geronimo Valley Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 29, 2001 at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The San Geronimo Valley Presbyterian Church.
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