Extracted from The Daily Press (Newport News, VA)
Saturday, September 27, 2003

Marion Robison

WILLIAMSBURG -- Marion Robison of Williamsburg, Va., died, Sept. 20, 2003, as the result of a fall while assisting a neighbor protecting their house from damage from Hurricane Isabel. She was 79.

Born Marion Wilder (Nan to friends and family) in Alexander, La., Mrs. Robison and her husband, Bob John, were longtime residents of Washington, D.C. Mrs. Robison married her childhood sweetheart, Bob John, in 1943 while both were attending Louisiana State University. Robison was a torpedo pilot during World War II. Upon returning home, the Robisons spent the next 26 years in the Navy, including two tours of duty in Washington, 1945-46 and again in 1959-61, when Robison was Naval Liaison to the Senate. Mrs. Robison traveled around the world during her husband's career as a naval officer concluding his service as Fleet Operations Officer of the Atlantic Fleet.

After retiring from the Navy in 1967, the Robisons again moved to Washington where Robison was vice president of FMC Corp and head of the Washington office. He was executive vice president, head of the Washington office and member of the board of Hill and Knowlton from 1981-1986. The Robisons were active members of the Washington community. Mrs. Robison supported a number of charities, including the Red Cross, the Navy League, the March of Dimes, Meridian House, the Washington Symphony and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. They were members of the F Street Club and the Georgetown Club. The Robisons moved to Williamsburg in 1994, after Robison retired from his company, Robison International.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Robison is survived by a daughter, Suzanne Robison Spooner of Potomac, a son, Robert Gerald Robison of Scarsdale, N.Y., and five grandchildren, Raney Webb Luce, William Robison Webb, Christopher Ames Robison, Nicholas Chase Robison and Rebecca Lee Robison.

Graveside services will be held for Mrs. Robison at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made in Mrs. Robison's name to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1-888-293-1776.

Arrangements by Nelsen Funeral Home.