Ruby Duncan Robinson, 91, of the South Toe community, passed away on August 1, 2021 at Mission Hospital of Covid related pneumonia.
She was born to the late William Frank and Maude Hoover Duncan in Celo, NC on June 7, 1930 and graduated from Micaville High School in 1947. Ruby attended Madison College and the Grace Hospital School of Nursing before marriage, and years later had the opportunity to complete her nursing education. She graduated, with honors, in the first nursing class of Western Piedmont Community College on June 7, 1968 – her 38th birthday.
She worked for many years at Broughton Hospital, first as a nursing aide and later as an RN. She later worked at Highland Hospital in Asheville and retired from there when the hospital closed in 1992. She first married Charles Herman “Robbie” Robinson and had two children, then married Dewey Robinson and gained five step-children.
In addition to her parents, Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey, her son, Ronnie Robinson, two brothers, five sisters and a granddaughter, Nicole Martin.
Surviving are her daughter, Gail Westall (Mickey) and Gail’s children, Cassie Burleson (Tim) and Adam Westall (Tonya), great-grandchildren; Justin Helton(Emily), Jordan Burleson, Jayden Foster, Dalton Burleson (Taylor) and Austin Sparks, and great-great grandchildren, Ivy Burleson, Carmen Helton and another expected in September.
Dewey’s children: Tony Robinson (Karen), Jackie Denton, Larry Robinson, Steve Robinson and Tracy Doherty (Jeff), eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren plus one arriving in January, and a great-great grandson. Surviving, too, are her aunt, Nell Hollifield of Morganton, her sister, Gloria Gile of Clearfield, Utah, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She also leaves behind her dear friend from childhood, Elsie Wheeler Shurson of Asheville and her special buddy and colleague of more than 60 years, Ruby Mathis, of Morganton, her ‘extra son’, John Francis, of Acworth, Georgia, her good friend and helper, Sheila Robinson, and a former daughter-in-law, Jenni Lindsey….plus many co-workers and friends she met along the way.
Ruby was a member of South Estatoe Baptist Church. She was much loved and will be greatly missed.
The date for a graveside gathering will be announced later, and her remains will be interred beside her husband at the Ballew Cemetery.
Those wishing to make memorials are encouraged to consider Compassionate Care Western North Carolina, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC, or any charity of their choice. Yancey Funeral Service is respectfully serving the Robinson family.
To send an online condolence please visit: www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
