It’s No Secret: Martha Robinson Still Driving At 98
August 18, 2020 at 3:36 a.m.
It’s No Secret: Martha Robinson Still Driving At 98
By David [email protected]
On Monday, she celebrated her 98th birthday at the company she and her husband, Elburn “Gay” Robinson, founded in Warsaw over 60 years ago – Robinson Construction. Her desk was decorated with an Hawaiian birthday theme because Martha has a condominium in Hawaii but she hasn’t been able to go there for a while.
Martha was born Aug. 17, 1922, in a farm house south of Wabash. Her family were farmers, teachers “and other things,” she recalled. She said aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews were all teachers.
She met her future husband at a high school basketball game.
“I didn’t chase him,” Martha said. She let Gay pursue her. “He spotted me from across the gym and asked his buddy to introduce us. The gym was little. That was before they had big gyms.”
They were married Aug. 22, 1943.
“He was in the service when we married. We got married on a Sunday night and left early Monday morning for Pendleton, Oregon, where he was station,” she said.
They then moved around as Gay was stationed at various bases – Kansas, Oklahoma, etc.
About 18 months after they were married, on Christmas Day, Gay left Martha and told her, “‘If I’m not home for lunch today, I’ll be shipped out.’ And he left that day from the East Coast by train to the West Coast and went to the Burma, India, China Theatre. And I drove all the way home, crying, the same day he left.”
They were in North Carolina when they were parted because of the war.
While Gay was serving overseas, Martha started teaching school at Berne, Laketon and Linlawn. Linlawn was a township school south of Wabash where Martha had attended school for 12 years. She taught home economics, physical education, high school bookkeeping, typing and shorthand in 3-1/2 years.
After Gay returned from the war, he began working independently in construction in Wabash while Martha began having children and did the bookkeeping. They had four sons and a daughter. One of the four sons has since died.
Robinson Construction began in 1956 with Gay as the sole proprietor. “The boys, some of the boys were involved a little bit by then, too. They grew up with us,” Martha said.
Robinson Construction, now located at 445 E. 200N, Warsaw, was incorporated in 1979.
“There was never a time when (Gay) was working ... I wasn’t working with him on books and taking care of the kids,” Martha said. “I did all of the book work.”
She said she’s seen the business grow “very much. From a shoestring.”
Martha doesn’t work at Robinson Construction anymore, but she can often be found at the office.
“I come here for pleasure. To see people,” she said, driving herself there. “I got my license renewed (two weeks ago).”
Her secret to a long and happy life? “I have no secrets,” Martha said. “No secrets. Just living my life.”
Gay died at 89 years old on May 24, 2010.
Along with her children, she has 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Besides stopping in the office Monday for her birthday, she was planning to have dinner with one of her sons and his wife Monday night.
“I came to the office to celebrate. I love it. I missed it when this pandemonium started,” Martha said.
The office staff missed seeing her, too.
Martha said she appreciated all the attention she was getting on her 98th birthday. “It makes me happy,” she said.
On Monday, she celebrated her 98th birthday at the company she and her husband, Elburn “Gay” Robinson, founded in Warsaw over 60 years ago – Robinson Construction. Her desk was decorated with an Hawaiian birthday theme because Martha has a condominium in Hawaii but she hasn’t been able to go there for a while.
Martha was born Aug. 17, 1922, in a farm house south of Wabash. Her family were farmers, teachers “and other things,” she recalled. She said aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews were all teachers.
She met her future husband at a high school basketball game.
“I didn’t chase him,” Martha said. She let Gay pursue her. “He spotted me from across the gym and asked his buddy to introduce us. The gym was little. That was before they had big gyms.”
They were married Aug. 22, 1943.
“He was in the service when we married. We got married on a Sunday night and left early Monday morning for Pendleton, Oregon, where he was station,” she said.
They then moved around as Gay was stationed at various bases – Kansas, Oklahoma, etc.
About 18 months after they were married, on Christmas Day, Gay left Martha and told her, “‘If I’m not home for lunch today, I’ll be shipped out.’ And he left that day from the East Coast by train to the West Coast and went to the Burma, India, China Theatre. And I drove all the way home, crying, the same day he left.”
They were in North Carolina when they were parted because of the war.
While Gay was serving overseas, Martha started teaching school at Berne, Laketon and Linlawn. Linlawn was a township school south of Wabash where Martha had attended school for 12 years. She taught home economics, physical education, high school bookkeeping, typing and shorthand in 3-1/2 years.
After Gay returned from the war, he began working independently in construction in Wabash while Martha began having children and did the bookkeeping. They had four sons and a daughter. One of the four sons has since died.
Robinson Construction began in 1956 with Gay as the sole proprietor. “The boys, some of the boys were involved a little bit by then, too. They grew up with us,” Martha said.
Robinson Construction, now located at 445 E. 200N, Warsaw, was incorporated in 1979.
“There was never a time when (Gay) was working ... I wasn’t working with him on books and taking care of the kids,” Martha said. “I did all of the book work.”
She said she’s seen the business grow “very much. From a shoestring.”
Martha doesn’t work at Robinson Construction anymore, but she can often be found at the office.
“I come here for pleasure. To see people,” she said, driving herself there. “I got my license renewed (two weeks ago).”
Her secret to a long and happy life? “I have no secrets,” Martha said. “No secrets. Just living my life.”
Gay died at 89 years old on May 24, 2010.
Along with her children, she has 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Besides stopping in the office Monday for her birthday, she was planning to have dinner with one of her sons and his wife Monday night.
“I came to the office to celebrate. I love it. I missed it when this pandemonium started,” Martha said.
The office staff missed seeing her, too.
Martha said she appreciated all the attention she was getting on her 98th birthday. “It makes me happy,” she said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092