Simone Bassett Robbins Obituary (1925 - 2015)

Simone Bassett Robbins Decatur--When she was told three years ago that she had six weeks to live, Simone's determination to live redoubled so that she could spend as much time as possible with her family. After a decade of health challenges, Simone's final year and a half were spent in Illinois where she could be close to her grandchildren. Her family was blessed with more time--more time for band concerts, choir performances and holidays together. Simone lived to be 89, passing away at 9:55 a.m. on Saturday May 16, 2015 at Hickory Point Christian Village (Forsyth) in the company of her daughter Marise and beloved caregiver Aimee. Simone was born in Fort Valley, GA on August 14, 1925, the third of five daughters born to Ralph and Henriette Bassett. Her upbringing at Pineola Farms was anything but ordinary with a beloved French mother who left Paris to come to Peach County Georgia as a WWI war bride. Simone's most cherished stories were those of her early years on the farm with her mother, father and sisters. These included true tales of her French mother graciously opening their home over the years to Royal Air Force cadets from England and Wales who were secretly training nearby and the friendships that ensued. Simone was a life-long scholar, and member of Beta Phi Mu, who loved learning and teaching. She graduated with honor from Fort Valley High School in 1943. Simone earned four college degrees, the first an A.B. degree with a major in French, minor in English from Georgia State Woman's College (now known as Valdosta State College) in 1947. She greatly enjoyed attending French School at Middlebury College in Middlebury Vermont in the summer of 1947. Two years later (1949), she received her M.A. degree in French, minor in Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She met her husband, Dr. John "Al" Robbins while he was teaching at Duke University. They were married July 8, 1950 in Chapel Hill (NC) and moved to Bloomington Indiana where they lived near campus for all 42 years they were married. The couple spent one glorious year living in England and traveling throughout Europe thanks to a Fulbright Fellowship, allowing Simone to meet relatives of the RAF cadets and her own French ancestors. Simone worked for the Indiana University library system from 1950 until 1962, most notably holding the position of Biology Librarian. She lovingly took time off from this career to raise her daughter Marise, returning to college to earn an M.A. degree in Library Science from Indiana University (Bloomington) in 1966. During these years Simone became a prolific gardener and wild flower expert. She learned wood carving, embroidery, and created original wooden toys. She was most happy when on a trail or sharing her garden with friends. At the age of 59, Simone earned her final college degree, a specialist degree (emphasis on information science) from the School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University. She embarked on a new career at age 60 as a database manager for an I.U. biology professor at a time when the internet was just beginning to take hold. Simone's love of adventure and the outdoors led her to ice fishing, hiking lava trails in Hawaii, "boom bumping" in Maine and chilly Christmas bird counts--all in the company of her family. Simone was preceded in death by her parents, Raphael Phillipps Bassett and Henriette Alfonsine Bourdier Bassett; by her two oldest sisters, Beulah Fricke and Marguerite Harrison; and by her husband, Professor Emeritus Dr. John Albert Robbins, Jr. Simone is survived by her daughter Marise Robbins-Forbes and her husband Guy Forbes of Decatur (IL); three grandchildren, Sydney (15) and Katie (12) Forbes and Alicia Spinelli of Minnesota. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Marise E. Brink of Fort Collins, Colorado and Patsy B. Hilliard of Black Mountain, North Carolina. The family wishes to thank Simone's sisters Marise and Patsy for their steadfast love, prayers and outreach through both the good times and the more recent difficult days. The family wishes to also express their great appreciation to Harborlight Hospice, Comfort Keepers and the many individuals who provided such wonderful care to Simone. Heartfelt and humbling appreciation is given to Simone's longest running and most faithful friends, Don and Judy Lorenzen and Glenda Bryant, for their decades of true friendship to Simone that allowed her to stay in her home, enjoying her garden for many years. The family will receive friends in Illinois on Thursday May 21 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, 105 W. Main St, in Mt. Zion. A celebration of life service will follow at 6:00pm with Pastor Kathy King-Nobles. Simone will then be returning to her home in Fort Valley, Georgia. The family will receive friends in Georgia on Sunday May 24 from Noon until 2pm at Pineola Farms, followed by a graveside service at Oak Lawn Cemetery. Messages of condolence or flowers may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com (IL) or www.rooksfuneralhome.com (GA). Memorial contributions may be given to Art with Heart c/o First United Methodist Church (Decatur, IL), a fund to assist individuals with medical needs.