Barbara B. Robey

BARBARA B. ROBEY
September 26, 1934 - June 10, 2014

One of God's most compassionate and loving daughters, Barbara B. Robey, graduated to her new home at sunrise on June 10, 2014, at the age of 79. Continuing on life's journey are her husband, Dr. William Robey, daughter Pamela (Mark) Despotes and grandchildren Alex and Nick, son David (Joeaux) Robey, and grandchildren Austin and Nyx, brother Paul G. Black and family, sister Frances Haggerty and family, and numerous relatives.

Barbara was born on September 26, 1934 in Roanoke, VA, the eldest of three children born to Herman and Mary Bell Black. She graduated as valedictorian from William Fleming H.S. in 1952. She served on the student council and attended Girls State. She met her future husband while in high school in 1951. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry at Duke University in 1956.

After college, Barbara worked as a research assistant at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, VA. She married Bill Robey on April 20, 1957 and their daughter Pamela was born in Charlottesville the following year. In 1961, Bill, Barbara, and Pam moved to Phoenix, AZ, where son David was born. From 1962 to 1964, the family lived in Olathe, KS, while Bill served in the USN Medical Corps at the Naval Air Station. Throughout this time, Barbara was active in the church and social activities in Olathe.

When the family moved back to Phoenix in 1964, Barbara immersed herself in numerous activities, including teaching Sunday School at Epworth Methodist Church and serving as a docent for the Phoenix Art Museum. She was active in the Maryvale Republican Women. She also became a member, and eventually President of, the Maricopa County Medical Society Auxiliary. In this capacity, she started a training course for babysitters, which included water safety, a national first.

In 1970, she was elected to the Litchfield Elementary School Board, where she served for 20 years, during which time the school district expanded from one to ten elementary schools. While President of the School Board, she led the effort against siting a state prison next door to an elementary school in the district. As a result of being a local school board member, she became involved in the Arizona School Boards Association, receiving many awards for meritorious activity. As was so often the case, she rose to the top, eventually becoming ASBA President. Subsequently, she accepted the position of Director of Governmental Relations, lobbying tirelessly at the state legislature to impress upon them that the future of Arizona is in the hands of its children. In 2007, the ASBA board of directors created a lifetime achievement award, and Barbara Robey was the first recipient.

While lobbying, she suffered a stroke, which forced her to resign her post with the School Boards Association. However, she never slowed down. Although she was physically unable to lobby at the legislature anymore, she continued to attend school board meetings. God's plan to keep her active culminated in the opening of the Barbara B. Robey Elementary School in 2005. Her school became her life. Every weekday morning she assisted serving breakfast in the cafeteria. She frequently read to children in the lower grades and regularly attended countless school functions, helping wherever she could. Her last public appearance was to attend the school's fifth grade graduation, where she was thronged by students.

Of all of her accomplishments, the one that she was most proud of was the establishment of ASBAIT - the Arizona School Boards Insurance Trust. Barbara's idea was to allow school employees and their families across Arizona to purchase quality health insurance at the lowest rates available. From nothing, the trust has grown to over $150M and covers more than 35,000 members. Not bad, for one lady's dream, fulfilled! Incidentally, her total salary for this entire endeavor was absolutely zero.

Barbara always lived a life dedicated to others - especially children - in many of whose hearts she will live on. She was an amazing, compassionate, and dedicated woman - one who always "bit off more than she could chew" - and succeeded nevertheless. Her cheerful outlook and her concern for others was contagious - she has touched the lives of tens of thousands. Now it is her turn to fly. In her remarks at the dedication of the school which bears her name, she quoted an old proverb. "If you want to be remembered for one year, plant corn. If you want to be remembered for ten years, plant a tree. If you want to be remembered for a lifetime, educate a child."

Throughout her life, Barbara was very active in the West Valley Community. During the transition of Litchfield Park from a town to a city, she served on the Planning Committee, drafting articles of incorporation. Soon, she was elected to the first City Council, serving as Vice Mayor. In 1990, she became Mayor of Litchfield Park. In 2001, she was selected as Woman of the Year by the West Valley American Association of University Women. In 2009, she was selected as a West Valley 24 award recipient. Barbara also served on the West Valley Arts Council board and was honored as Queen at the annual Diamond Ball. She served as a trustee for the La Loma Retirement Community, and two different Valley hospital boards. She was an active supporter and trustee of the Litchfield Park Historical Society, and also volunteered at two local food banks.

Barbara was a beloved grandmother, fondly known as "Scooby." She was an excellent chef and baker, especially renowned for her famous blueberry pancakes, pimiento cheese, and gingersnap cookies. She was an avid tennis player, winning numerous trophies and co-owning a local tennis shop. She also enjoyed skiing and loved to travel. She never passed up an opportunity to get her feet wet - either in a backyard pool, a wild creek, tropical isle, or at her beach house in North Carolina (affectionately called the "Scooby Shack"). In her later years, she continued to stay sharp by participating in a book club and lovingly caring for all her precious boys and girls. All in all, Barbara Robey was a true Renaissance woman!

A memorial service will be held on July 19th, at 10 a.m., at Barbara B. Robey Elementary, 5340 N Wigwam Creek Blvd, Litchfield Park, AZ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Barbara Robey Charitable Fund. In keeping with Barbara's last wishes, all funds will go toward providing summer programs for students of Barbara B. Robey Elementary. To make a donation, visit www.barbararobey.org or mail a check to Barbara Robey Charitable Trust, BMO Harris Bank, 2828 N. Litchfield Rd., Goodyear, AZ 85395.



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