Loving matriarch, avid bridge player, dedicated volunteer

Aileen Marie Robinson, who lived in the same Claremont home for the past 53 years, died on Monday, August 11, 2014. She was 93.

Born on December 24, 1920 in Boone County, Nebraska to parents Conrad and Louise Wegener, she was raised on a farm in the town of St. Edward, Nebraska, where she graduated from high school in 1939.

After winning a blue ribbon at the Nebraska State Fair for original undergarment pattern design and earning a scholarship in home economics to the University of Nebraska, she instead moved to California in 1939 and settled in the Pomona area, where she and her sister often enjoyed dancing with soldiers at USO events held at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. She eventually met and married Sidney Robinson, a Midwestern Navy transplant from Kansas, in 1947. They lived in Pomona until 1961, when they moved to the Claremont home she remained in for the duration of her life.

She and her husband were enthusiastic travelers before they had children, including a trip to Cuba in the 1950s. They were also sports fanatics, enjoying Los Angeles Rams season tickets at the LA Memorial Coliseum. She continued to prefer sports to all other television programming throughout her life and took great joy in cheering for local teams with her children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Robinson worked in the photography department at the Los Angeles County Fair following the passing of her husband in 1971. She eventually took over as coordinator of the exhibit in 1980, overseeing the internationally recognized show through 1987.

She joined the Assistance League of Pomona Valley in 1953 and served as president in 1957. A life member, she was the National Assistance League’s regional liaison and served on the national public relations committee. She remained active with the organization’s Lazy Susans auxiliary and was presented its Ada Edwards Laughlin Award in 1994.

Mrs. Robinson was a dedicated, lifelong Republican who was active in the National Federation of Republican Women and its local chapter up through her 70s.

Mrs. Robinson also volunteered at Claremont schools, serving as president of the Parent-Faculty Association at Sumner Elementary School in 1971 and on the CHS Class of 1977 Grad Night Committee. Along with her philanthropic and volunteer work, Mrs. Robinson read voraciously and was a keen bridge player, playing several times a month through her early 90s.

Albeit quiet in nature, she was an ever-present and devoted supporter of her children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Robinson is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Bob Miller of Pomona, and her son and daughter-in-law, Sid and Beth Robinson of Upland. She also leaves a granddaughter and her husband, Ashley and Shannon Robb of Eastvale, and grandsons Sid Robinson and Sam Robinson, both of San Marcos.

Her husband Sidney Robinson, brother Leonard Wegener and sister Lorraine Wegener preceded her in death.

A memorial service for Mrs. Robinson will be held on Friday, August 29 at 11 a.m. at Todd Memorial Chapel, located at 570 N. Garey Ave. in Pomona.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Assistance League of Pomona Valley, 655 N. Palomares St., Pomona, CA 91767.