In Memory Of
Willa Mae Robinson
1928
2023
Willa Mae Robinson
July 20, 1928 — January 30, 2023
Willa Mae "Jo" Robinson, 94, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023 in Topeka. She was born July 20, 1928 in Gentry, Arkansas, the daughter of Ellis E. and Bula Mae (Draper) Grim.
Jo grew up in Alamogordo, New Mexico where she graduated from high school in 1946. She moved to Emporia in 1948, Wichita in 1951 where she attended Professional Beauty College, Ottawa in 1963 and had resided in Topeka since 1989.
Jo was a homemaker, worked at Cessna in Wichita for fifteen years and was a hairdresser in Ottawa at Goldie's Beauty Salon for three years.
Jo was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and a Life Member of the VFW Memorial Post No. 5901 Auxiliary both in Ottawa and the FOE Aerie No. 58 in Topeka. She cleaned the kitchen starting in 1989 every Friday at Papan's Landing Senior Center for fourteen years, worked twelve to fifteen years with the election board and worked Bingo for both the Rebekah's and Odd Fellows. She was a Life and Charter Member of the Humane Society (Friends of the Animals). Jo was very active and served as a leader for the Girl Scouts of America for forty years at Santa Fe Trail in Ottawa and was active in Boy Scouts of America where she served in the Quivera Council in Wichita. She was also a member of the Audubon Society and the National and International Wildlife Federation and enjoyed both landscape and tole painting. Jo was a member of the East Topeka United Methodist Church for thirteen years until they closed. She had been a member of Highland Heights Christian Church in Tecumseh since June 2013.
Jo married Jack Pharris in 1943 at Carrizozo, New Mexico. They later divorced. She married Harvey J. "Robby" Robinson on January 15, 1949 at Emporia. He preceded her in death on November 23, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, M. Adele Pharris Wester, two sons, Jack Pharris, James Robinson and her half-brother, Jacob Byard Grim.
Survivors include her grandchildren, April (Andy) Coultis, Jonathan Wester, Lolly (Dave) Gardiner, Bob (Krystal) Huggard. Also surviving are four great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
A Celebration of Jo's Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Highland Heights Christian Church. Private burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery at Pomona.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Highland Heights Christian Church, 2930 SE Tecumseh Rd., Tecumseh, Kansas 66542.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family with service arrangements.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
Jo grew up in Alamogordo, New Mexico where she graduated from high school in 1946. She moved to Emporia in 1948, Wichita in 1951 where she attended Professional Beauty College, Ottawa in 1963 and had resided in Topeka since 1989.
Jo was a homemaker, worked at Cessna in Wichita for fifteen years and was a hairdresser in Ottawa at Goldie's Beauty Salon for three years.
Jo was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and a Life Member of the VFW Memorial Post No. 5901 Auxiliary both in Ottawa and the FOE Aerie No. 58 in Topeka. She cleaned the kitchen starting in 1989 every Friday at Papan's Landing Senior Center for fourteen years, worked twelve to fifteen years with the election board and worked Bingo for both the Rebekah's and Odd Fellows. She was a Life and Charter Member of the Humane Society (Friends of the Animals). Jo was very active and served as a leader for the Girl Scouts of America for forty years at Santa Fe Trail in Ottawa and was active in Boy Scouts of America where she served in the Quivera Council in Wichita. She was also a member of the Audubon Society and the National and International Wildlife Federation and enjoyed both landscape and tole painting. Jo was a member of the East Topeka United Methodist Church for thirteen years until they closed. She had been a member of Highland Heights Christian Church in Tecumseh since June 2013.
Jo married Jack Pharris in 1943 at Carrizozo, New Mexico. They later divorced. She married Harvey J. "Robby" Robinson on January 15, 1949 at Emporia. He preceded her in death on November 23, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, M. Adele Pharris Wester, two sons, Jack Pharris, James Robinson and her half-brother, Jacob Byard Grim.
Survivors include her grandchildren, April (Andy) Coultis, Jonathan Wester, Lolly (Dave) Gardiner, Bob (Krystal) Huggard. Also surviving are four great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
A Celebration of Jo's Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Highland Heights Christian Church. Private burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery at Pomona.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Highland Heights Christian Church, 2930 SE Tecumseh Rd., Tecumseh, Kansas 66542.
Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family with service arrangements.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Willa Mae Robinson, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)
Highland Heights
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