Robinson, Metta Florence (1883-1953)

ROBINSON, PORTER, BELL, VAN BUSKIRK, BROBST, SCHRODER, GROVE, VEGORS, JANSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/5/2015 at 12:40:47

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, January 5, 1953

Miss Metta Robinson, 70, longtime Webster City school instructor, died yesterday afternoon at 12:15 at the Hamilton county hospital where she had been a patient the past three weeks.

Miss Robinson, a teacher in the rural and town schools of Iowa for more than 40 years, had been in failing health the past eight years. For the past four years she had made her home with the Misses Joanna and Sarah Hunter in Webster City, and for three years prior to that had lived at the Harold Schroder residence at Blairsburg. Miss Robinson was an aunt of Mrs. Schroder.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Methodist church in Webster City. The Reverends J. J. Share and J. A. Farnham will officiate with burial in Graceland cemetery. The Foster's funeral home has charge of services.

Metta Florence Robinson, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Charles and Mary Melissa Robinson, was born at Cammelton, Ind., Oct. 13, 1883. She was a semi-invalid throughout her childhood, and had only about six months of schooling before the age of 12. When the Robinson family moved to Iowa in 1896, she attended the country schools of Hamilton county and then was graduated from Webster City high school. She later was graduated from Fort Dodge Business college and attended the University of Iowa at Iowa City.

For many years she taught in the rural schools, later accepting a position in the grade schools of Webster City, then became head of the commercial department at Lincoln high school where she became one of Webster City's most highly respected and popular teachers. For two years, she was president of the Iowa Commercial Contest association.

As a member of the Methodist church, she served for many years as a Sunday school teacher and missionary worker. During World War II, she served as secretary for the servicemen and student's work for the W.S.C.S. in the Methodist church and wrote nearly 4,000 letters to the men in service. She was also active as a member of the Chapter El, P.E.O., Chapparal Poets and Quill club, both the latter being original writing organizations. She had several of her poems published in various anthologies and also write numerous short stories.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law, Mrs. Aida Robinson of Cullam, Ill., Mrs. Mae Robinson Porter of Inglehart, Calif., and John C. Bell of Webster City; several nieces and nephews; Earl Van Buskirk of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mrs. Hallie Brobst of Iyota, Minn., Paul Robinson of Schenectady, N.Y., Mrs. Harold Schroder of Blairsburg, Mrs. Donald Grove of Blairsburg, Melvin Bell of Goldfield, Mrs. Keith Vegors of Webster City, Mrs. Richard Janson of Webster City and John R. Bell of Williams.

It is the family's preference that friends so desiring make contributions to a church memorial through the courtesy of Miss Ethel Virtue or Ada and Margaret Bell, rather than send flowers.