Eleanor "Fran" Robinson, 88
Oct. 27, 1921 — May 30, 2010
- Eleanor Robinson, 88
Frances was born to Robert Miner and Lucy Gray (Gatling) Capps in Jacksonville, Ill. on Oct. 27, 1921. Highlights from her earlier years in Jacksonville included playing Josephine in “Pinafore” and graduating as valedictorian of the class of ’39 from Jacksonville High School.
After attending Illinois College for two years, Frances enrolled at the University of Michigan, where she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in history. At Michigan, Frances met Arthur Dudley Robinson Jr., and the two married in Detroit on Sept. 24, 1943 following Arthur’s graduation from midshipman’s school at Notre Dame.
After the war years, the couple settled first in Grosse Ile, Mich. and finally in Niles in 1959. Frances pursued her lifelong passion for history through countless hours researching family genealogy the old-fashioned way by searching archives and census records, visiting cemeteries and writing letters. She was a member for more than 40 years of Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, where she sang soprano in the senior choir, served as church historian and on the altar guild. Frances indulged her love of gardening and birding through her longtime membership and volunteer service with Fernwood Botanical Garden and in the Niles Garden Club. She loved to arrange flowers and create beautiful table settings.
Other activities over the years included Seepawa Reading Club and League of Women voters, in addition to teaching fifth grade in Niles for a number of years.
Frances will be remembered by her two daughters together with their husbands, Sarah (Sally) and the Honorable Thomas Lister, of Black River Falls, Wis. and Martha (Marti) and Douglas White of Westbrook, Conn.; and by her five grandsons, Dr. Matthew Lister and wife Dr. Nicole St. Clair, of Milwaukee, Wis., Joshua Lister, of London, England, Alexander White, of Astoria, N.Y., Benjamin White, of Columbus, Ohio and Nicholas White, of Westbrook, Conn.; and two great-granddaughters, Hannah and Brooke Lister.
Frances was preceded in death by her sister, Porter Capps Main, and her husband, Arthur D. Robinson.
A family memorial will take place in Michigan at a later date. Contributions in Frances’ name may be made to Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill. or to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120.
Niles Daily Star, Published 10:02pm Wednesday, June 9, 2010
* * *
A service of remembrance will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Monday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. for Eleanor Frances Capps Robinson, formerly of Niles, who died Sunday, May 30, 2010 following a brief illness.Frances was born to Robert Miner and Lucy Gray (Gatling) Capps in Jacksonville, Ill. on Oct. 27, 1921.
Frances was a member for more than 40 years of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she sang soprano in the senior choir, served as church historian and was on the altar guild.
She was a longtime member and volunteer with Fernwood Botanical Garden and in the Niles Garden Club. Other activities over the years included Seepawa Reading Club and League of Women voters, in addition to teaching fifth grade in Niles for a number of years.
Frances will be remembered by her two daughters together with their husbands, Sarah (Sally) and the Honorable Thomas Lister of Black River Falls, Wis., Martha (Marti) and Douglas White of Westbrook, Conn.; and by her five grandsons, Dr. Matthew Lister and wife Dr. Nicole St. Clair of Milwaukee, Wis., Joshua Lister of London, England, Alexander White of Astoria, N.Y., Benjamin White of Columbus, Ohio, and Nicholas White of Westbrook, Conn., and two great-granddaughters, Hannah and Brooke Lister.
Frances was predeceased by her sister, Porter Capps Main, and her husband, Arthur D. Robinson.
Contributions in Frances’ name may be made to Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill. or to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120.
Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00pm Thursday, August 12, 2010