Melinda Louise Robinson

After a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer, Melinda Robinson passed peacefully with her family by her side and surrounded by love on September 9, 2023.

Melinda Louise Robinson was born on October 19, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Emerson and Marian Biggs. After relocating to California, Melinda enjoyed her childhood with her older brother, Stephen and younger sister, Cindy, in Burlingame. She attended Roosevelt Elementary, Burlingame Intermediate and Burlingame High School where she graduated in 1959. During her time in High School Melinda played viola in the school orchestra and traveled to the World’s Fair in Belgium in 1958 to compete with other high school orchestras from around the world.

After high school, Melinda moved to San Francisco where she found work as a receptionist at The Union Oil Company. It was there that she met James Robinson, whom she would marry in 1968. Jim and Melinda welcomed their first son, Richard, in 1969 and their second, Greg, in 1972. In 1976, the family relocated to Auburn.

Melinda began working at Pioneer United Methodist Church in 1987 and would remain there as church secretary until 2017. She served eight pastors during that time and formed many wonderful relationships that have lasted decades. She also renewed her love of music by playing the viola in the Auburn Symphony, retiring in 2019 after 30 seasons. She cherished her love for musical performance and the many relationships she formed with her fellow musicians and the thousands of music lovers who attended the concerts.

From 1998 to 2005, Melinda enjoyed traveling with her good friends, Pastor Sarge Wright and his wife, Lucille, visiting locales such as Egypt, England, Japan and Israel.

By far, her most cherished time was spent with her son, Richard and his daughters, Allison, 24, Taylor, 22 and Lauryn, 19 and her second son, Greg, and his wife, Keri and their sons, Sam, 14 and Henry, 9. All of her grandchildren adored her and were by her side throughout her illness. She lived for them and loved them very much.

Melinda is preceded in death by her husband Jim, in 1991 and her brother Stephen, in 1992. She is survived by her loving sons Richard and Greg, daughter-in-law Keri, sister Cindy, grandchildren Allison, Taylor, Lauryn, Sam and Henry, nieces Tiffany and Jennifer and nephew Peter.

Services will be held October 15 at 3 pm at Pioneer United Methodist Church, 1338 Lincoln Way in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, Melinda requested donations be made to Pioneer United Methodist Church in support of its Gathering Inn program, which she helped lead for many years.