Our Deepest Condolences

​Barbara Jean Norton Robinson, age 75, passed peacefully Wednesday, March 23, 2021. She was born September 4, 1945 and grew up in West Branch, Michigan with her parents Ivan and Neoma Norton, sister Judy and brothers Fred and Tim.

In 1963, she joined the U.S. Navy. After recruit training Barbara went to Newport, Rhode Island for disbursing clerk school and then on to the finance office at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. A few years after being discharged from active duty, Barbara joined the Navy Reserves. While in the Navy Reserves, she was able to serve in CAG Twenty located in Cecil Field, Florida. She also served in Patron Squadron Sixty-Two. While Barbara served in the Navy, she was able to serve at the jet base at Fallon, Nevada, Rota, Spain and other places. In 1994, she retired as chief petty officer disbursing clerk.

Barbara’s daughter, Laura Horning, was born at Quonset Point, Rhode Island in 1970. Barbara’s son, Christopher Horning, was born at Patuxent River, Maryland in 1972. After her children’s arrival they were her main concern and attention. Her civilian jobs as bookkeeper at a junior high school, plus military pay clerk, then as an accounting technician for military pay in the Federal Service, Navy Reserves and church activities kept her busy until her retirement.

Through the years Barbara has enjoyed being with friends and doing what she could for others. Barbara enjoyed visiting with and doing fun things with her mother, siblings, children, grandchildren, other family members and friends.

March 1997, Barbara and Vernon Robinson were married and began their life together. October 1997 was early retirement from U.S. Federal Civil Service so Barbara and Vernon could live in Sheguaindah, Ontario, Canada. Her husband, Vernon died in 2003.

Reading, visiting, playing cards and games as well as listening to music brought pleasure to Barbara.

Being active in her church activities and being about the Lord’s work was her main concern in life. Being an ordained minister in Community of Christ, provided many opportunities to server her Lord.

In October 2005, Barbara moved back to her hometown of West Branch, Michigan. She has worked as an elections inspector at city hall, was active in American Legion Post 103 in West Branch and was a volunteer at the West Branch Book Nook.

Barbara traveled, visiting family, friends and enjoying life. Some of the places she traveled to were twelve other countries, plus Branson, MO, Nashville, TN, the Smokey Mountains area, and many other places in the United States. Her times at church world conferences in Independence, MO were special, also.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Robinson, mother – Neoma (Vincent, Norton) Reid, father – Ivan Norton, step-father – Logan Reid, brothers – Richard and Randy Reid.

Surviving are her children, daughter Laura Horning (husband Arthur Smith) of Independence, MO, and son Christopher Horning (wife Anna Horning) of Middleburg, FL, step-children – Loree Robinson of Sunnyvale, CA, Richard Robinson of Ontario, Canada and Elizabeth Harris Wylde, of Arizona. Barbara’s grandchildren are Elizabeth, Erik, Emily and Erin Horning of Florida, Eliza Horning of Ontario, Canada, Tiona Horning of Missouri, and Lacie Beland, Emma and Thomas Cornwell of Florida. Great grandchild Serena Bowick of Florida. Her siblings are, sister Judy Klemetti (Lee) of Muskegon, MI, brothers Fred Norton of Belleville, IL and Tim Norton of Kansas City, MO, Ethel Jean (Harold) Iutzi of Michigan, Virginia Thompson of Florida, Marlin Reid of Florida, Marlene Baggett of Florida, Judy Matthews of Michigan, Darla Fox of Michigan and Marsha Russell of Michigan.

Also surviving is her friend, Edward Zimmer, who has given her such special companionship.

Visitation at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will begin on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery with veteran honors. Seventy Kevin White will officiate.

Visitation will be held with precautions, due to the current pandemic, limiting the number of attendees at a given time.

Please Note:  The family has requested that if you have a nice picture (or even a few) of Barb you can share those using the link provided by the funeral home (https://www.tributeslides.com/up/13215214286031) to add them to the slide show that will be playing at the funeral home during the visitation. They would love to have your pictures of Barb included if you are able. Thanks. 

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