Elizabeth Shirley Robbins

93, Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14, 2010. Shirley was born May 15, 1917 in Altoona, PA., the daughter of Roland Alonza and Florence Elizabeth White. Shirley was raised in Altoona, PA and in Oxford, MD. She and her siblings spent the school year in Altoona and traveled by train each year to spend summers in Oxford on the Chesapeake Bay. Shirley graduated from and taught at the School of Commerce in Pennsylvania. During WWII, she had an opportunity to put her business skills to use by going to Washington D.C. to work at the Office of Price Administration. While in Washington, she met a young man from Indianapolis, James Leslie Robbins. Jimmy had been sent from Ft. Benjamin Harrison to the War College in Washington D.C. Jimmy and Shirley were married at the War College, a marriage that lasted over fifty years until his death in 1995. After the war, Jimmy returned to Indianapolis with his bride. For many years, Shirley was the executive secretary at Ryerson Steel. She was a member of the Irvington UMC, the Leiderkrantz and the Indianapolis Council of Women. She was also a docent at the Benjamin Harrison Home where she dressed in period costume to take school children on tours through the home. In later years, she and Jimmy were able to travel, making several trips to Europe. They were a couple who always enjoyed each other�s company, continuing to be dance partners into their eighties. Shirley was also an avid reader and life-long learner. Each day she would read the newspaper article by article and until the last few years, every week her sister would send her a copy of the Washington Post crossword puzzle to do. Shirley will always be remembered for her style, her many interests and her devotion to family. Until she became ill, she was still enjoying going out to lunch each week, always wearing red lipstick and high heels. Shirley was deeply loved and will be as deeply missed. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth �Betsy� Clark (husband, Gordon); granddaughter, Robin Chaplick; and step-granddaughters, Hillary Dick and Adelle Clark. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Roland White of Jackson, MS. Her surviving sibling is Anna Lauretta Dodson of Gaithersburg, MD. The family would like to thank friends and staff at Rittenhouse and AseraCare Hospice for their kindness and care. Also, thank you to Sharon Fogelson who began as a caregiver and ended as a dear friend, and to Dr. Bernard Herbst. These special people were so important to Shirley in the last years of her life. A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, October 18, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Shirley Brothers Irving Hill Chapel, 5377 E. Washington St. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Irvington United Methodist Church, 30 North Audubon Road, Indpls. 46219.

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Elizabeth Shirley Robbins

May 15, 1917 - October 14, 2010