Grace Robbins Obituary

Robbins

Grace Irene

(McCombs) Robbins

October 4, 1919

November 23, 2021



What a life!



Grace Robbins died after a short illness on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Oliver Sacks said, "my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. …Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure." This sums up the life of Grace Robbins.

Grace Irene McCombs was born on October 4, 1919 in Debeque, Colorado. After spending her early years living in such far-flung places as Tie Siding, WY and Shamrock, TX where her father was working on road construction projects during the Great Depression, the family settled down in Colorado Springs where Grace graduated from Main High School in 1936.

There she met her first true love, Charles Robbins. Charles and Grace were engaged in 1939 at which point she hopped on a train to travel to Washington D.C. to work in the "new" Social Security Admnistration. Two years later she hopped on another train. This time to Bremerton, Washington to marry Charlie. Charlie was working in the navy yard repairing ships damaged in World War II. They returned to Colorado Springs after the war where they raised their family, Judith Lee Patterson (nee Robbins) and Scott David Robbins.

Grace was blessed to have two great loves. Some fifteen years after Charles died, she found love again at the age of 79 when she married long-time high school classmate and friend, Bob Waymire. She and Bob had seven loving years together. As the adopted grandmother of the Waymire clan, Grace enjoyed many years of love and support since Bob's passing in 2007.

Grace was proud to be a working mother. After returning to Colorado, she had a long career working for the U.S. Civil Service in the Air Force Judge Advocate's Office at Ent Air Force Base. As a court reporter, Grace was chosen to take depositions all over the United States. She retired from that work to become the office manager in the family business, Robbins Heating and Air Conditioning, from the mid-1970's until 1981.

Grace loved to travel. One of her greatest joys in life during the later years was looking at the dozen or so photo albums of her travels throughout the world.

Throughout the years she was a generous supporter of many organizations including volunteer work with Pikes Peak Hospice and the Assistance League of Colorado Springs. Grace had a loving, generous spirit and was cherished by all who knew her. She lived the last two years of her life in the Memory Care Unit of the Brookdale at Skyline facility. She always had a kind word and a smile for caregivers, family and friends alike.

She is survived by her daughter, Judi Patterson, son-in-law John Patterson, son Scott, daughter -in-law Mary Mesropian, granddaughter Lucy Robbins, grandsons Michael Patterson, and Ben Robbins and their spouses and children, Stacey Patterson, Grace Patterson, Nelleigh Patterson, Claire Patterson, Harper Robbins and Claire Robbins.

We would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Skyline and Brookdale Hospice program for their compassion, understanding, and generosity in caring for Grace.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Assistance League of Colorado or the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.