Billie Robinson

Billie Robinson was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1930 and died on December 31st, 2024. She graduated from public schools in Port Neches, Texas, in 1947. After attending Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, she attended North Texas State University in Denton. Billie accelerated her academic course load, often taking 6 or 7 classes at a time to graduate at the same time as the love of her life, and high school sweetheart, Harry Robinson. She was successful, and they graduated together in 1951. Later that year, Billie and Harry were married.

Harry was drafted into the US Army, and the newlyweds moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, for two years, where Harry served at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Billie worked for Eli Lilly as a secretary in the Research and Development department during those years and met many great lifetime friends. At the end of Harry’s enlistment, they moved to Austin, Texas, where Harry was in graduate school and Billie taught at O’Henry Junior High in Austin. In 1955, Harry earned his MBA, and they moved to Dallas, where the Federal Reserve Bank employed Harry. Billie worked as a secretary until 1961 and, at that time, was employed by Richardson Independent School District.

Cindy was born in 1961. When she was old enough for kindergarten, Billie went with her and taught at a private school for the next 20 years. Paul was born in 1967.

In 1976, the family had a great adventure with a "bareboat" charter in the Bahamas. They chartered a boat at Marsh Harbor for seven days. The beaches were beautiful and untouched by footprints - the best vacation they ever had. Paul and Cindy collected and classified shells - not an argument for a whole week.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Billie and Harry were the ultimate swim parents. They drove thousands of carpool shifts, volunteered at swim meets, and assumed a leadership role in the Richardson Swim Team. Billie always supported all the swimmers on the team, often knowing their best times and birthdays.

Professionally, Billie was ready to see a "finished product," so she left kindergarten teaching and started her own interior decorating business—referrals only, working out of her home. This was a fun and rewarding career; her customers were wonderful—"we all became friends.” When Harry retired, he did all the bookwork and scaled out the rooms for her. As always, they were a great team.

They always had boats - Harry built three boats in the garage, and Billie told him the next time he "laid a keel,” she was leaving. From then on, they bought boats. The first was a wooden Chris Craft that had to be totally redone. The family enjoyed that boat for about 2 years. That was only the beginning, as they bought and sold six other boats over the next 30 years. Harry and Billie were an excellent team and always enjoyed working together, from re-decorating to cooking. In 2013, they decided it was too hard to maintain the boat and dock and keep it up to our standards, so they sold the boat.

In their retirement years, they traveled extensively and were members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, working at Lake Texoma, doing patrols and boat safety education. It was a most rewarding experience, and they enjoyed making new friends locally and in the U.S. Coast Guard.

During that time, Harry and Billie would often be seen sitting on their back porch having a drink and talking like they had not seen each other for years. The truth was that they had been together every day for the prior 25 years. Their ability to communicate and their love were genuinely legendary.

After living in their home for 50 years and being members of the Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church for 40 years, it seemed sensible to sell their home in Richardson and move to Presbyterian Village North in 2015.

In March 2015, Harry died. Billie remained active as a PVN resident in independent living for the next ten years. She loved doing water aerobics, Tai Chi, and sewing bears for underprivileged youth. She was a great mentor to her grandchildren, always dispensing nonjudgmental advice. Always supporting her family and friends, Billie lived a life of meaningful service to others.

Billie is predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Harry E. Robinson, Jr. Survived by daughter Cindy Jackson and her husband Mark; son Paul Robinson and his wife Bridget; six grandchildren, Roy Devore, Jeff Devore, Amy Tajbakhsh, Jill Snyder, Kate Robinson, Tori Robinson, and grand dog Scout Robinson.

A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Village North Chapel, 8600 Skyline Dr, Dallas, TX, 75234, on Tuesday, January 7th, at 4 PM.

A graveside service for Billie will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hillcrest Cemetery, 1873 N 1st St, Temple, TX 76501.

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