Margunde Robinson

May 27, 1923 - January 29, 2015

The hummingbirds have lost a special friend, but the silver has been polished, the linens pressed, and the dance floor waxed; she would expect no less. For on January 29, 2015, after an absence of 20 years and two months exactly, Edmund Robinson had the grand ballroom prepared and the Manhattan's poured to greet his beautiful German bride, at which point, he could ask her to dance.

Margunde (Mickey) Huth was born in Edesheim, Germany on May 27, 1923. She was the only surviving child of the late George and Dora (Lorenz) Huth. Mickey came of age during World War II; she experienced bombings and hardships, and when the dust cleared she found herself in a war-torn country. She had many happy memories in Germany, but an American GI named Edmund (Eddie) Robinson was taken by her gorgeous legs and he pursued her. They eventually married on June 11, 1948. She arrived in the US on September 9th of that year. Her first home was in Eddie's home state of Maine. The family moved constantly as Eddie found work as an engineer. They eventually settled in Modesto.

New to the country, Mickey was thrilled to find there was a community of German-Americans in Modesto. She became actively involved and was eventually President of the Order of Die Hermann Söhne German Club. It was through these German connections that she met her poker club as well as her best friend and partner in crime, an Austrian then named Margaret Stallone. The two were thick as thieves and never argued, and protected each other until Mickey drew her final breath. Their unconditional love and friendship was passed to their daughters and grandchildren as their two families share generations of friendships. Eddie and Mickey stood up for Margaret when she married Richard Shields, and along with another couple, the late Lloyd and Rose Gustafson, took numerous trips, celebrated many parties, and were frequently seen sitting around the bar at the Shields' residence drinking their signature Manhattan's regaling each other with their escapades, to the delight of anyone present.

Eddie and Mickey had excellent comic timing and were known for their wit. Mickey's greatest strength was as a wife and homemaker. Her home was kept ship-shape, everything was scrubbed on a bi-weekly basis. She was an excellent cook; her grandchildren will miss her signature potato salad, and her famous German-delicacy, rouladen. She prepared them every Christmas, her favorite time of year, where her ability to sing carols with her daughter Roswitha could bring tears to Eddie's eyes. Mickey continued her family traditions following Eddie's death on November 29, 1994.

Left to mourn this extraordinary woman are her children, Roswitha "Rita" (Joe) Corazzini, her "Golden Boy" Frank (Lisa) Robinson, and Denyse Miller. She was the beloved Oma to her schatzies, Katharine Kelly (Matt) Streeton, Brittney (Jesse) Bryant, David (Nichole) Robinson, Chase Miller, and Greg Robinson. Her posterity is endless as she is survived by the following great-grandchildren, Owen Robinson, Kira Bryant, Asher and Everett Streeton, Luke and Dean Robinson, and one boy to be born this April via granddaughter Brittney. She is also survived by her step-sister Irma Schmitz of Germany. In Modesto, she leaves the woman with the coldest hands and warmest heart, her best buddy and sister of the heart of 60 years, Margaret Shields and her family who considered Mickey their second mother and Oma. Mickey went from being Margaret's greatest protector on earth to her most vigilant guardian angel. The family would like to thank her unwavering and patient caregiver Gloria Whittington for her years of service, Mickey considered Gloria her daughter from the Black Forrest. In addition to her parents and husband, Mickey, is preceded in death by her grandson Craig Corazzini in 2010 and her great-grandson Michel Corazzini in 1999.

A celebration of Mickey's life will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 11:00 am at Lakewood Funeral Home, 900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA. The family asks that all donations be sent to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, 2201 Euclid Avenue, Hughson, CA 95326 for the special care they gave Mickey in her final days.

The band is ready to leave, his eyes are turning green, and he hates to be kept waiting. Then, ever fashionably late she arrives, all eyes in the ballroom turn to her. Edmund grabs Margunde and they dance like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They are now circling the floor dancing a Viennese Waltz forever. At last she is with her beloved, at last this hummingbird is free. Ruhe in Frieden Liebe Mickey.