Obituary for David Page Robbins David P. Robbins, 78, of Fredericksburg, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. David was born in Schenectady, New York. He spent his school years there and his summers in York Beach, Maine.
In 1961, he graduated from the University of Rochester with his fiancée, Martha Lightbown. They were married later that year. David served in the US Army Reserve 1962-68.
In 1965, he graduated from UC Riverside and returned to the east coast. He and Martha raised their two daughters in New Hampshire and later retired to Virginia. David was a lifelong learner.
He was a passionate public educator (US history and geography) at New York and New Hampshire schools for many years. A cheerful, friendly man who was full of wit, he loved talking with and learning about others. He treated everyone with equal respect and interest, touching the hearts of all who met him.
He was deeply committed to helping the overlooked and the underprivileged. David was exceptionally musical: he sang, played the piano, listened to music all day long, and collected vintage sheet music. His other special interests included baseball, maps, current events, statistics, and religion.
He was a lifelong Christian—a Presbyterian as a child, an Episcopalian as a young adult, and then a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as a pianist, teacher, and leader for almost 40 years. Above all, David adored his family. He delighted in his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchild and spent many hours communicating with treasured extended family.
He kept a journal, wrote his personal history for his posterity, researched family history, and covered his walls with family trees and pictures of his ancestors and descendants. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 57 years, Martha; children, Beth Austin (Gary) and Meg Andrew (Bruce); grandchildren, Michael (Rachel), Sarah, Becca, and Daniel Austin and Wil, Amy, Henry, and Martin Desposorio; great-grandson, Clive Austin; brother, Doug Robbins; nephew, Joseph Robbins; niece, Deborah Speckhard (Jesse); cousins, Joanne Smith and Paula Page (Lee); and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews. David has now joined his parents, Barbara and Ralph Robbins; aunt and uncle, Muriel and Clayton Robbins; niece, Sarah Robbins; nephew, Thomas Robbins; and cousin Joanne’s husband, Bruce Smith.
A service to remember and celebrate David’s life was held privately, per his wishes. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders (donate. doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.
cfm), the American Indian College Fund (collegefund.org/make-a-gift/? =website), and the United Negro College Fund (www. uncf.org/ways-to-donate).
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