Neva Robinson
Neva Robinson, 87, passed away on Sept. 3, 2013, at Newton Medical Center, Newton, Kan.
Neva was born Feb. 1, 1926, in Miltonvale, Kan., to Leslie and Hilda Baskins. After graduating from Peabody High School, Peabody, Kan., in 1944, she married the late Leo Reid.
Following Leo’s return from U.S. Army duty in the European theater of operations in World War II, the couple settled in Florence, Kan., where they raised five children. She was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence until her death.
After working as a seamstress and for The Bulletin newspaper in Florence, Neva began her career with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier in the 1960s. She later served and eventually retired as postmaster in Assaria, Kan. In the 1970s, she ran a clothing store in Florence, Reid Guys’ Shop.
Neva married Edwin Robinson in 1987. She and Ed resided in Florence, where she was a pillar of the community. She served as the first chairman of the board of the Florence Housing Authority and was instrumental in securing a U.S. Housing and Urban Development project for Florence, the Carriage Manor independent living community for seniors.
In the late 2000s, Neva prepared a successful submission to the Kansas Historical Society for designation of the Florence water tower as a state historic place and its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
She was a founding member of the Florence Historical Society, a tireless volunteer at the National Register-listed Harvey House Museum in Florence, and the premier float builder for the city’s annual Labor Day celebration.
Neva was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Hilda Baskins; husband, Leo Reid; sister, Rosalee Baker, of Peabody; and sons, Michael and James Reid.
She is survived by her husband, Ed; sister, Janie Hodges, of Peabody; son, Reilly Reid, and his wife, Susan, of Florence; daughter, Kristin Parrino, and her husband, Steve, of Dallas, Texas; son, Tom Reid, and his wife, Beverly, of Marion, Kan.; son, Kevin Reid, and his wife, Tracy, of Maize, Kan.; Tena Lundgren of Marion, widow of Jim Reid, and her husband, Ken; stepdaughter, Jackie Sigwing, and her husband, Mike, of Wichita, Kan.; stepson, Ed Robinson, and his wife, Linda, of Florence; stepson, Kevin Robinson, and his wife, Janet, of Florence; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The Rosary was recited Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, at Zeiner Funeral Home, Florence, with visitation afterward. The funeral ceremony was Saturday, Sept. 7, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Florence. Burial was at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Peabody.