Joanne Robinson

Heaven gained another angel on Thanksgiving night. Just after midnight Peggy Joanne (Hilton) Robinson joined her husband John, sister Betty, and parents Bert and Lucille Hilton at a welcome home party with Jesus! She waited until all her family had a chance to say goodbye and they could celebrate Thanksgiving in a very different way before she finally let go peacefully in her sleep on November 28, 2025.

She was a true spitfire. Sassy, sharp and full of personality. She was the life of the party, the kindhearted, inclusive person who always put others before herself. And did it with a smile and sense of humor. Her talent for singing and whistling would surprise many and her laugh was contagious.

Joanne, as she was known, was born 2 months premature on July 14, 1935, at home in Crane, Missouri, but made her home in California for 78 years. She graduated from Elk Grove High School as that school’s first female student body president. She married her high school sweetheart, John Robinson, right after graduation and they raised 3 children, Jeffrey, Joel and Jennifer during a 67-year marriage.

She worked most of her adult life and settle with the Federal Government working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Sacramento and retiring in Fresno as the Administrator of the San Juaquin Valley region of the Railroad Retirement Board.

She had many friends and was active in her church even participating in a mission trip to Romania. She enjoyed painting, flower gardening, crocheting and getting together with the Red Hat Ladies and her lifelong friends from High School. She had fun with her 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and in the last few years just had to say Hi to any baby that crossed her path whether she knew them or not.

She is survived by her children Jeffrey and Karen Robinson, Joel and Jennifer Robinson, and Jennifer and Mike Holcomb, grandchildren Bryan, Kyle, Natalie, Jillian, Brandel, Zoey Robinson and Jake and Tyler Holcomb and great grandkids Naliya, Henry, Brynna, Vincent Robinson, Addison Holcomb, Olivia, Joanna and Serena Pedro and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

We celebrate your remarkable life and feel blessed to have had you for 90 incredible years. You were a shining blessing to all who knew you and a strong foundation in our family.