Ann Robins

Ann Gray Robins (Dinsmore, nee Davidson) of Swift Current (formerly of Regina and Windsor ON) passed away on September 9, 2016 at the age of 103. Ann was born on January 9, 1913 in Viking AB to Scottish immigrant parents John and Agnes Davidson.  When Ann was an infant, her parents homesteaded south of Ponteix.  She attended Pinto Head School, walking across the prairie hills at the age of 5 because her attendance was required for sufficient student numbers. From the age of 15, Ann made her own living away from home. After taking a hairdresser course in Regina, she went to Aneroid and set up her own business.  That included making a day trip by train to Kincaid once a week to meet customers there. In 1935 Ann married James Dinsmore of Aneroid.  Farming was difficult so Ann and Jim moved to Windsor in search of work in 1942.  There they raised two sons, Robert Lorne born 1942 and Ronald Kenneth born 1944.  The Dinsmores kept in close touch with their Saskatchewan family, driving back for visits every three years. Widowed at the age of 54, Ann took a new direction in life, joining the work force as a receptionist in a dental office and a counsellor at a home for troubled girls.  She also enjoyed travelling to visit her sons in Australia or California, friends in Hong Kong, or sisters in Apache Junction. It was during one of those visits that Ann became reacquainted with Victor Robins, an old friend from her days in Aneroid.  The pair married in 1996 and Ann acquired another family. Now it was time to move permanently back to Saskatchewan after many years in Windsor. When she was widowed again, her family encouraged her to move to Swift Current. In 2011 Ann took up residence in the Bentley Retirement Home. Ann was blessed with good health and an alert mind.  In her second century she cheered on the Blue Jays, celebrated the centennial of the Davidson homestead, attended a luncheon with Prince Edward, played bridge with friends, wore her Rider shirt, and tended the violets she started in the early ‘70s. Ann is survived by her daughter-in-law Marlene Dinsmore of Pleasanton, CA, her brother Angus (Marlene) Davidson of Cadillac, her sister-in-law Lois Davidson of Swift Current, many nieces and nephews, and Vic Robin’s children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by husbands Jim Dinsmore and Vic Robins, sons Bob Dinsmore and Ron Dinsmore, daughter-in-law Mary Dinsmore, and her siblings and their spouses: Janet (Irvin) Lamb, Myrtle (Wes) Baragar, Jean (Raymond) Robinson and Jack Davidson.  Five of Vic’s children and their spouses also predeceased her.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Ann Robins of Swift Current will take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm from the Swift Current Funeral Chapel with Rev. Annette Taylor officiating. The Interment Service for Ann Robins will take place at a later date at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Windsor, ON.

 Service Information