Natalia Young Robinson

She was born September 14, 1931 in The Hague in The Netherlands to George and Dorothy Young. Talia's father George was one of the “Dollar a Year Men” and was asked to assist with the war effort planning in the years leading up to WWII. He was in charge of setting up fueling stations around Europe to ensure vehicles and tanks could refuel easily in case war broke out.

At the age of 6, Talia and her family left Europe and settled in New Canaan, CT. She attended the New Canaan Country Day School, Miss Hall’s School, and later graduated in 1954 from Smith College with a degree in Sociology. While at Smith, Talia travelled to Dartmouth for a weekend-long blind date. Talia’s date fell ill, and his replacement was Lookout Mountain’s own Monk Robinson. They married in February of 1955, and after a stint with the Navy and the birth of their first child, the couple settled down on Lookout Mountain.

Talia would say her greatest accomplishment in life was her 4 kids. She enjoyed her life which was busy with their activities: swim meets, football games, tennis matches, wrestling matches, track meets, plays at McCallie, and glee club concerts at GPS. Talia was a smart, well-educated woman who enjoyed a good book, an interesting conversation and over time the more practical things in life like sewing, gardening, reupholstering furniture, refinishing hardwood floors, hanging wallpaper, and keeping old washers and dryers running.

Talia loved volunteering and giving back to her community. She was a member of the Junior League, where she danced in the Follies and sang in the glee club and decorated Christmas trees. She was a member of the Lookout Mountain Garden Club. She was part of the team of women, led by Margaret Smith, who taught at Good Shepherd School, where she worked with the 4 year-olds for many years and loved every second of it. She sang Alto in the choir at the Church of the Good Shepherd, and she worked in the church bookstore for many years. She helped raise money for Fairyland School for about 45 years. At age 80, she and her friends worked the Grandparent’s Booth at the Fairyland Festival.

Sports came easily to Talia, swimming, snow skiing, golf, field hockey, but she would probably say that tennis was her favorite sport. She and Monk could often be found on the tennis courts at the Fairyland Club. She was a level 5 tennis player with a wicked cross court forehand. In her 50s, she and her tennis friends started playing doubles on a regular basis and would travel to different communities to compete in tournaments. They did quite well, and she really enjoyed that time with her friends. She played tennis into her 80s until her eyesight started to fail her.

Talia was preceded in death by her parents, George Washington Young and Dorothy Steele Young, by her brothers George Young and David Young, and by her husband of 59 years, E. Montgomery “Monk” Robinson.

She is survived by four children, Kathleen Darnell, Monk (Kathy) Robinson Jr., George (Wendy) Robinson, Natalie (Mike) Chalverus; ten grandchildren, Stokes (Alicia) Swann, Adam (Cortney) Swann, Nate (Courtny) Robinson, Holly (Alex) Smith, Russ (Sarah) Robinson, Meg Robinson, Walker Robinson, Emily (Chase) Hayman, Clark Chalverus, Ryan Chalverus; and nine great-grandchildren, Campbell Swann, Jackson Swann, Cameron Viravouth, Sunny Swann, Christian Wheeler, Lola Wheeler, Lexi Wheeler, Veda Swann, and Nathan Moody.

Talia Robinson’s visitation, memorial service, burial, and reception will occur on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 211 Franklin Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350. Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m. in Talbird Hall. The memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. in the main sanctuary. Burial will occur immediately afterwards in the outside memorial garden. Then everyone is invited to a catered reception in Talbird Hall. The memorial service and burial will be officiated by the Reverend Robert T. J. Childers.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel was entrusted with her arrangements