Edna Mae (Dill) Robinson, age 96, of Shawnee, KS, passed away at Statford Commons Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, in Overland Park, at 5:21 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at Derfelt Funeral Home, 132 East Pine Street, Columbus, KS 66725.

Edna was born September 24, 1922. Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson, 5 foot two eyes of blue, on a long life well lived.

She was born, in Melrose, KS, to Harry and Effie (Griffon) Dill, the middle child of nine. The family moved to Columbus, where they remained through all their public school years. Edna had a nickname of "dill pickle". She became sweethearts with Earl "crazy legs" Robinson, and stayed that way through high school.

They married in November 1941 after graduation, and moved to Chicago, IL, where their first child was born, Pamela K. in July 1943. Earl joined the Army and served in World War II in Europe.

Edna and Pamela returned to Columbus to spend the remainder of the war living with her parents. After the war, Earl returned to Columbus became a welder and, along with his family, traveled across the country on welding jobs. When Pamela was becoming school-age the Robinsons moved to El Dorado, KS, where Earl trained for a health sanitarian position for the city. In August 1950 their son, Alan Luke, was born. They purchased their first home and settled in El Dorado until 1955 when the family moved to Erie, KS.

Earl worked for the city, and Edna started working in the doctor's office since both children were in school. She worked in healthcare with doctors that totaled 33 years. Moving from Erie to Joplin, MO in 1968, they remained at the family home in Joplin, as the family grew and soon expanded to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many happy years of family holidays and celebrations were enjoyed by Earl, Edna, and family.

Earl and Edna shared just short of 50 years of wedded life together. Earl passed away in May 1991 from liver cancer.

Edna continued on at the home. She worked and enjoyed volunteering at the local senior center. She enjoyed out-of-town trips with friends and family. She was the most caring and friendly person, and enjoyed many years of health. Then in September 2010, she moved to Kansas City to be closer to family. She was diagnosed with dementia and entered an assisted living memory care facility, where she remained until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her parents, Harry and Effie; three sisters, Alicia, Fontella and Berea; three brothers, Harrison, Calvin and Mervin; one grandson, Gary Emrick Jr.; and one son-in-law, Gary Emrick Sr.

She is survived by one sister, Marvella Ricketts, of Wichita, KS; one brother Ervin Dill, of Joplin; one daughter, Pamela Kay Emerick Freling (husband, Don), of Shawnee; one son, Alan Luke Robinson (wife, Hope), of Grandview, MO; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was our wonderful, loving matriarch for many years and will be missed and remembered with love.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.