Patricia Marie Robinson

Patricia Marie Robinson Indianapolis – Patricia Marie Robinson, 88, of Indianapolis passed away October 27th, 2019. Patricia “Pat” was predeceased by her husband of 65 years—Frederick William “Bill” Robinson. She is survived by their two sons, Steven William (Anne Cunningham) and Bret Allen (Christine Schlegel); two grandchildren, Elliot and Abigail; and other family members and close friends.

Pat was born and raised in the southwest-Indianapolis community of Mars Hill. After graduating from Ben Davis High School in 1947, Pat attended Indiana Business College and then applied her education to an office-staff position with the Indiana State Police. While working for Indiana State Police and in her early 20s, social outings for Pat and her close circle of girlfriends might include roller skating at a local rink, car cruising in the vicinity of Indy’s Tee Pee Restaurant, or visiting at a table covered with White Castle hamburger boxes and surrounded by laughter.

It was through one of her State-Police girlfriends that Pat had the opportunity for a blind date; a date that shaped every aspect of the rest of her life. On that blind date she met a young soldier—Bill Robinson—and they immediately were smitten. Five days after their first meeting, Bill proposed marriage and Pat said “Yes!” They were wed in December 1953, and at the time of Bill’s passing (February, 2019) they had enjoyed over 65 years of happy marriage.

Within her Indianapolis community, Pat had long-term associations with Westview Christian Church, Park Tudor School, and the medical office of Dr. Kenneth Gray. At Westview Christian Church, Pat and Bill were founding members and active in every aspect of church life: Sunday school, nursery care, teenage youth groups, church administration, etc… From 1958 through 1994, Pat was active at Park Tudor School as the wife of a faculty member, the mother of two students, and as a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten classroom. From 1978 to the time of her retirement in 1994, Pat worked in the medical office of Dr. Kenneth Gray as front-desk receptionist and office manager.

A fundamental aspect of Pat’s character (and completely in line with examples set forth by her parents), Pat always looked for opportunities to provide support for those in her broader community. These simple acts of kindness might include knitting “Chemo Caps” and hospital baby-blankets anytime she learned there was a need, providing rides to church or doctor visits for shut-in neighbors and friends, respite weekends for the challenged children at Noble-One School, and earning her 2,000-hour volunteer pin at St. Vincent Hospital.

While Pat always demonstrated a strong dedication to her professional and philanthropic endeavors, for her nothing came ahead of family. Pat’s love of family was shown to her family every day of her adult life. And, beyond generously fulfilling the mundane tasks that traditionally fell to a wife, mother, and homemaker (meals and laundry… skinned knees and homework monitor), Pat also was willing to embrace the landscape that came with a household of males who all loved sports and the outdoors. In some of these activities you could have seen Pat: sitting barefoot in a rainy campsite (“…because it’s easier to dry feet than shoes.”), cheering for her sons or the soccer team her husband coached during many wet or snowy Fall afternoons, or riding white-knuckled in a canoe (where she consistently asked that the boats “Stay close to the shore!”).

Pat’s love of family also was evident during the times she spent with her extended family: cheering with Anne during school activities of the grandchildren, fishing with Chris from a boat or dock, every minute spent with her two beloved grandchildren, or travels/camping/reunions to spend time with “Robinsons” far and wide.

If only one word was allowed to summarize Pat’s life, that word might be “Others.” She always put Others ahead of Self. At no time was that more evident than during the last years of her life when Pat was able to fulfill a wish held very deeply in her heart—being able to provide in-home care for Bill during his final battles with cancer. Even with her own cancer diagnosis, Pat chose to put her health issues on the back burner so that she could provide the care and support that her husband needed. She lived her life for others and therefore was loved and admired by so many.

Visitation will be at Flanner Buchanan-Speedway on Friday, November 1st from 4 – 8 pm. with Funeral service at 11 am on Saturday, November 2nd. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Rosie’s Southside Animal Shelter (www.ssasi.org) or Westview Christian Church.