Obituary of Gretchen Louise Robinson

Gretchen Louise Robinson (Gould), beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on 1 April at the age of 88. She was born on 6 June 1934 in Princeton, ME to Elsie Mae (Rideout) and Herman Dexter Gould.

Gretchen was a kind and caring person who always put others before herself. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.  Gretchen loved to sing and dance and never met a stranger.  She loved people and made friends wherever she went.

After graduating Princeton High School at the age of 17, Gretchen took courses in secretarial skills and worked as a secretary and phone operator before marrying Bill on 11 January 1953. They settled in Eastport, Maine where they would start their family. Gretchen worked in various jobs in Eastport from the Rexall, the fish factory, to the sardine cannery and others.  She also would cut and color hair for friends and family. 

In 1978, Bill and Gretchen moved their family to Rockville, MD. Gretchen went to her first interview for a job at Goodwill Industries and won them over with her Down east accent when she spoke of having a difficult time finding a place to “pahk the cah.” She was hired into the typing pool and quickly moved up the ladder to become the secretary to the President and Vice President of Goodwill Industries of America in Bethesda, MD.  Gretchen loved her job, the people she worked with, and organizing and attending the yearly Delegate Assemblies that took place all over North America.  At one such Delegate Assembly in Los Angeles, Gretchen had the privilege to meet Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Red Buttons.  She loved showing the pictures of her talking with them to friends and family.  Gretchen retired from Goodwill in 1993 and she and Bill moved from Rockville, MD to Gloucester, VA.  They loved living away from it all and in a small cabin on the water.  When their youngest daughter, Billi, moved to Roanoke, VA for her doctoral internship, they fell in love with a house while exploring the area and Bill and Gretchen moved to Roanoke, VA in 2002. In 2012, Gretchen moved in with her youngest daughter, Billi, to provide care for her while Billi went through breast cancer treatment. In 2021, Gretchen and Bill moved to Rockland, ME to live with their daughter, Kelli and her partner, Mark Moholland. 

Gretchen is predeceased by her husband, William A. Robinson and sisters, Debra Gould and Erlise Hughes.  She is survived by her children Rebecca Robinson (Melissa), Kelli Robinson, Billi Robinson (Rudolph Cordero) and her grandchildren (Samuel Robinson, Matthew Robinson, Christopher Garner, and Zachary Garner).

A celebration of life will be held at a future date in Eastport, ME. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.  Memories and condolences may be shared on her tribute wall.