Dr. Williamh. Robinson, Iii M.D.

William H. Robinson, III M.D.

Dr. William H. Robinson, 91, of Topeka, died on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at Brewster Health Center. He was born on May 19, 1914 in Roaring Spring, PA, the son of W. Herbert Robinson, Jr. M.D. and Frances (Mock) Robinson. He attended the Roaring Spring schools and graduated as class valedictorian in 1932. He then enrolled in the Pre-Medical course at the Pennsylvania State College and graduated with a B.S. degree. He was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma honorary scholastic fraternities and received a letter in fencing. He took his medical training at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He was next an intern and resided at Williamsport General Hospital in Williamsport, PA. This was interrupted when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army in January 1942. He was stationed at the Regional Station Hospital at Ft. George G. Meade, MD. He was initially assigned to the Psychiatric section of that hospital. He remained there until discharged in April 1946. At this time, he had become Chief of the Psychiatric section and had attained the grade of Major. To further his training he enrolled in the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, KS and upon graduation in 1949 became a staff psychiatrist at the Topeka V.A. hospital. In 1953, he moved to the Minninger Clinic where he remained as a staff psychiatrist until his retirement in July 1976, 23 years later. He was one of the few remaining members of the first class of the school. He received his M.D. degree in 1940. He was board-certified in Psychiatry and was a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He married Thelma Wood, daughter of Orville and Ethel (Strunk) Wood of Altoona, PA. in Altoona on May 9, 1942. They have two children, William Wood of Edmond, OK. and Sally Frances Schoenhals of Topeka, KS. He survived by his wife and children and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his only sibling, Elizabeth Shoff of Roaring Spring in 1995. Dr. William Robinson had many interests including silent films and was an avid reader of American and English histories, railroading and mystery and adventure fiction. He donated his 78 RPM, 500, record collection to Kansas University and his 180 volumes of American Heritage and other histories to the Topeka West High School. He enjoyed his retirement years saying, "It was the best job I ever had." Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Dr. William Robinson will lie in state after noon Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Friday evening. Memorial contributions may be given to the Salvation Army, 1320 S.E. 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66607 or Kansas Silent Film Festival Inc., P.O. Box 2032, Topeka, KS 66601-2032 or Railroaders Memorial Museum, 1300 Ninth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602.