Elizabeth "Betzi" Burton Hendry Robinson
September 28, 1936 ~ January 7, 2018
ELIZABETH BURTON HENDRY ROBINSON
“BETZI” (Age 81)
On January 7, 2018 of McLean, Virginia, after a short illness. Beloved wife for 53 years of Owen Everett “Robbie” Robinson, who predeceased her. Mother of Kristin Price Robinson Wickersham and son-in-law, Mark Warren Wickersham, of Richmond, Virginia, and Ian Hendry Robinson and daughter-in-law, Lisa Parkinson Robinson, of Reston, Virginia. Loving grandmother of Jocelyn Price Wickersham and Diana Elizabeth Wickersham.
Betzi was born on September 28, 1936 in Arcadia, Florida, and grew up in San Diego, California, where her grandfather, Major General Charles F. B. Price, was the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. She received her B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied Drama and Fine Arts. After graduation, she accepted a position with the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in Vientiane, Laos, where she met and married Robbie, who was serving there as an Operations Officer for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. They were posted to: Surabaya, Java, Indonesia; Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia (where Robbie was the U.S. Consul); and Manila, Philippines before returning to the U.S.
Wherever Betzi lived, she studied and created art. After returning to the U.S., she became deeply involved in East Asian brush painting with the Sumi-e Society of America. Betzi served the Society as editor for its international publications and as President for six years. Her paintings were awarded “Best in Show” twice, requiring her to retire from competitions and become an “invitational entrant.” In 2006, she became the first Occidental woman ever invited to select paintings for and judge the Sumi-e Society’s National Annual Exhibition. Most recently, Betzi was an instructor at The Art League of Alexandria, Virginia. She taught at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria and conducted weekly Master Classes for locally practicing artists in Northern Virginia. Affectionately known by her students as “Betzi sensei,” she took pride in having never retired from teaching.
Betzi was a devoted member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McLean for over 42 years. She sang in the choir, served faithfully on various committees, preached on numerous occasions, and joyously served on the session as a ruling elder.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 1125 Savile Lane, McLean, Virginia 22101. Friends are welcome to come and celebrate her life. If you’d care to make a charitable donation in her memory, Betzi held a special place in her heart for Immanuel as well as St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana 59004 (stlabre.org).
“BETZI” (Age 81)
On January 7, 2018 of McLean, Virginia, after a short illness. Beloved wife for 53 years of Owen Everett “Robbie” Robinson, who predeceased her. Mother of Kristin Price Robinson Wickersham and son-in-law, Mark Warren Wickersham, of Richmond, Virginia, and Ian Hendry Robinson and daughter-in-law, Lisa Parkinson Robinson, of Reston, Virginia. Loving grandmother of Jocelyn Price Wickersham and Diana Elizabeth Wickersham.
Betzi was born on September 28, 1936 in Arcadia, Florida, and grew up in San Diego, California, where her grandfather, Major General Charles F. B. Price, was the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. She received her B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied Drama and Fine Arts. After graduation, she accepted a position with the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer in Vientiane, Laos, where she met and married Robbie, who was serving there as an Operations Officer for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. They were posted to: Surabaya, Java, Indonesia; Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia (where Robbie was the U.S. Consul); and Manila, Philippines before returning to the U.S.
Wherever Betzi lived, she studied and created art. After returning to the U.S., she became deeply involved in East Asian brush painting with the Sumi-e Society of America. Betzi served the Society as editor for its international publications and as President for six years. Her paintings were awarded “Best in Show” twice, requiring her to retire from competitions and become an “invitational entrant.” In 2006, she became the first Occidental woman ever invited to select paintings for and judge the Sumi-e Society’s National Annual Exhibition. Most recently, Betzi was an instructor at The Art League of Alexandria, Virginia. She taught at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria and conducted weekly Master Classes for locally practicing artists in Northern Virginia. Affectionately known by her students as “Betzi sensei,” she took pride in having never retired from teaching.
Betzi was a devoted member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in McLean for over 42 years. She sang in the choir, served faithfully on various committees, preached on numerous occasions, and joyously served on the session as a ruling elder.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 1125 Savile Lane, McLean, Virginia 22101. Friends are welcome to come and celebrate her life. If you’d care to make a charitable donation in her memory, Betzi held a special place in her heart for Immanuel as well as St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana 59004 (stlabre.org).
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