Sheila Bell Robinson

Sheila Robinson passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024 at her place of residence in Woodbridge, Virginia. She will be remembered for her loving nature, kindness, creativity, talent, and intelligence. She was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and beloved husband of 56 years, Allen Robinson; and her brothers, Charles Edward Bell and Andrew Bell. Sheila was born in Sanford, North Carolina in 1931 to the late Lorena and Charlie Bell, later moving to Virginia with her family as a teen. She attended Falls Church High School where she excelled in academics and participated in activities such as student council, basketball, cheerleading, National Honor Society, and glee club. As busy as she was, she somehow found the time to meet and fall in love with Allen during her high school years. After graduation, Sheila continued her studies at Madison College (now James Madison University) in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she shone academically, actively participated in a wide range of activities from student council to modern dance, and made life-long friends. In 1954 she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Education Degree with a major in Voice. Another milestone that year was her marriage to Allen after 6 years as a couple. Sheila began her career as a public school teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. She taught 6th grade at Crestwood Elementary in Springfield for several years and later taught music at Edgar Allan Poe Intermediate School in Annandale, gaining a reputation during her career as a caring and dedicated educator. After retirement she and Allen moved into their dream home in Wintergreen, Virginia. At Wintergreen, Sheila and Allen were able to spend their retirement years enjoying the spectacular mountain views that they loved, golfing, skiing, meeting many new people who would become dear friends, and hosting fun visits with grandkids and other family and friends. In addition to being a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandma, great grandma, and friend, Sheila was a wise counselor, empathetic listener, and avid reader with a wide-ranging intellect. She enjoyed many creative pursuits, but was particularly focused on music. She started playing piano at a young age, also dabbling in other instruments such as the guitar and organ. She loved to sing and participated in the church choir throughout her adult life. She worked hard to instill an appreciation for music in her students. Her love of music and the comfort and familiarity it brought helped sustain her during her long battle with dementia. Sheila is survived by three loving children: Doug Robinson, Teri Clark and husband Carroll, Dona McVoy and husband Ed; six treasured grandchildren: Delain Clark, Heather Turner and husband James, Kelsey Clark, Justin McVoy and wife Liz, Kevin McVoy and wife Daina, and Erin McVoy; five precious great grandchildren: Abby, Anna, Nora, Isaac, and Layne; and much-loved sisters-in-law, niece, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank the many dedicated staff members of Westminster at Lake Ridge for caring for Sheila over the years. We also want to express our appreciation of her fellow Westminster residents who showed her kindness and helped her to participate in activities she enjoyed as dementia overtook her. Our mother held a special place in her heart for the many friends who enriched her life from childhood to her last days. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on May 7, 2024 in the chapel at Westminster at Lake Ridge, 12191 Clipper Drive, Lake Ridge, Virginia. A private graveside service will be held on another date at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Westminster Resident Supporting Fund, or the Westminster Kreider Employee Endowment Scholarship Fund at: https://inglesideonline.org/foundation/online-giving/ “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” ~Maya Angelou