Marcia Grace Burkett Robbins, 90, of Fredericksburg, VA (formerly of Phoenix and Payson, AZ and Palmyra, NY) passed away on Wednesday, January 15th at Mary Washington Hospital. Marcia was born in Rochester, IN to Norman and Helen Miller Burkett. She was raised in Akron, IN and graduated from Akron High School in 1952. Eager to get off the farm, Marcia moved to South Bend as soon as possible and worked for Witwer Insurance. She married her high school sweetheart, Jim Robbins, in 1952. The couple moved their family to upstate NY where they lived for over 40 years. They later moved to Arizona.
In the early 70s, Marcia was introduced to the artistry of eggs and became both an accomplished designer of decorated eggs and business owner of The Robbins Nest which has sold egging supplies for over 50 years. She was honored by her peers with the Kit Stansbury Award. She participated in egg shows across the US and made egging friends from around the world.
To our family, she was our beloved mom and grandma. She loved hosting family and friends at the cottage on Keuka Lake and later in Arizona. She was a wonderful cook who always had a generous heart. She loved playing cards and traveling to Europe and the Caribbean. She will be greatly missed.
Marcia was predeceased in December by her husband of 72 years, Jim Robbins, and by her daughter, Amanda “Mandy” in 1996. She is survived by son, Timothy (Susan Felhofer) of Marshfield, WI, and daughter, Sarah Chapple (James) of Stafford, VA. She was Grandma to Matthew Robbins (Heather) of Walworth, NY; Katie Williams of South Bend, IN; Rachel Robbins (Damian Kumor) of Pittsford, NY; Emma Chapple of Stafford, VA; and Joshua Chapple of Washington, DC; as well as great-grandchildren: Lou, Cora, Elsie, Reece, Rowan, Colin, Grant, and Remy. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends from around the world.
A celebration of life for Marcia and Jim Robbins will be held at a later date with interment in Palmyra Cemetery in Palmyra, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
