Robson, Mary E. (Blanford) 1918-2004

ROBSON, BLANFORD, SLAUGHTER, COLE

Posted By: Linda Robson (email)
Date: 3/20/2005 at 19:16:42

COLFAX -- Mary Ellen (Blanford) Robson, 86, of Colfax died Wednesday, Sept. 15, at her home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton with the Rev. Timothy K. Robson officiating. Burial will be at Newton Union Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials will be accepted to the Red Cross and may be left at the funeral home.

The daughter of Charles Austin and Carrie Eldora (Slaughter) Blanford, she was born June 12, 1918, in Colfax. She graduated from Blanford School in Colfax. On June 20, 1936, she married Elmer J. Robson in Newton. She was a teacher for Blanford School for two years and was the secretary for The Ladies' Club in Grundy Center. She wrote for the newspaper, which earned her national recognition on the topic of Arms for Peace. She was invited to the White House by former President Nixon to serve on the committee for Arms for Peace.

Mrs. Robson also was a Sunday school teacher for 16 years and a counselor for 45 years, four of which were with Youth for Christ. She traveled around the United States as an ordained minister with her husband for a number of years. After retiring, they co-founded the Lighthouse Worship Center in Clive. The past few years she served as executive secretary for the center.

Her great-grandparents, George and Blenda Slaughter, are recognized by the Jasper County Historical Society as the first settlers of Jasper County.

Mrs. Robson grew up in Colfax, lived in Waterloo for many years and recently moved back to Colfax.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Timothy of Applington; a daughter, Linda Robson of Colfax; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Larry Dean Robson, two brothers, Glenn and Royale Blanford; and a sister, Gretchen Cole. ~ Newton (IA) Daily News, Friday, September 17, 2004