Helen (Van Valin) Robinson  
Helen Jolene (Van Valin) Robinson
Children: Michelle Harris, Vancouver, Washington, Alana Bordelon, Austin, Texas, Brett Bingham, New Braunfels, Tx, Vance Bingham, Live Oak, TX
6 grandchildren. 1 Great grandchild.
WORK: First job,Standard Reliance Insurance Company, Lincoln.
Through the years: Comptroller for Tecom, Inc. Austin, TX - a government service contractor, Velcro USA, Douglas, AZ-liason between home office in Manchester, NH and our plants in Agua Prieta, MX. I continue to work as a Realtor (r) for Long Realty Tombstone...
I did retire from Velcro USA about 3 years ago and started another career in real estate as indicated above. Working harder now that I ever did!!
I ask myself if I plan to retire all the time...However, this career gives me the money and opportunity to travel and do my annual harrassment visits to my children.
INTERESTS: My lifelong passion for horses finally came to fruition at age 45 when I bought my first horse. My husband and I enjoyed camping and trail riding. We lived in Texas and you would think that state would be the best place in the world to go riding, but it wasn't until we moved back to Arizona that we really got to enjoy our hobby. You can camp and ride on all the National Parks and state/federally owned land here. As I got older, comfort was a necessity, so I traded in my old quarter horse for a gaited Missouri Foxtrotter and I still have her all these years later.
Having been into arts and crafts all my life, I discovered, much to the dismay of my pocketbook, making cards with rubber stamps. Needless to say, a $10.00 class has turned into a room full of stamps, paper and supplies!
I have also discovered TRAVEL!!!. Cruise ships are great and have enabled me to go to Alaska, Belize, Honduras, Mexico. A year ago, I also went to New Zealand for a month and friends escorted me to all of the "Lord of the Rings" sites on the North Island. What a beautiful country. My girlfriend and I recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica..what a great place with wonderful people.
Significant Life Events: Life is always full of challenges and victories. I have to be thankful for my family and friends. They have been with me through all the heartaches and challenges, as well as the smiles..the losses of parents, grandparents, a sister and a husband. My grandchildren and great grandchild are truly blessings as are my friends of 40+ years. So, I consider these to be the most "significant" events in my life.
MISSES: I miss the innocence we had in the 50's. However, I am sure we have all said, "if only I knew that then", but all the experiences make us the great people we are today. I was shy in high school and my careers have enabled me to come out of my shell, do public speaking, volunteer as a "Retired Senior Volunteer Director" and have confidence in my ability to get things done.
CHANGES: Of course, my children and grandchildren have been the greatest life changes. Our relationship has changed over the years as they got older..I am still their parent, but we have great "friendships".