Fay Mable Willard

Fay Willard, 79, passed away suddenly Monday, May 20 at her home in Tacoma.

Fay was the first of four girls born to Louis Willard and Frances (née Miller) Willard in Louisville, KY. Fay chose Tacoma as her adopted home after a lifetime as a global military nomad, first as the daughter of an Air Force officer, then as a member of the Air Force Nurse Corps, and finally as the wife of an Air Force officer. Though the Robson Family’s station at McChord Air Force Base in 1978 was simply a function of an Air Force assignment, Fay fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and chose to call Tacoma home for more than 40 years after divorcing, first living in Brown’s Point, and then the North End neighborhood.

Fay led a very quiet and private life, particularly after the physical disability brought on by a childhood illness progressed to the point of cutting careers in nursing and childcare short. Despite the physical challenges and resulting financial strain, Fay never wavered in her devotion to family and her commitment to her children—fraternal twin sons David and Paul Robson, and daughter Linda Robson. Through all the challenges and obstacles, Fay was steadfast in teaching her children to be kind and respectful, the importance of service and citizenship, and the value of hard work and education. The results of her dedication are self-evident, with a combined seven college degrees earned by her three children.

With a diminutive stature of less than five feet, and the need for a cane for most of her life, Fay’s hobbies and interests were primarily pursued from the comfort of home—her cooking and baking skills were unmatched, with many meals and desserts created completely from scratch; a bona fide “news junkie,” Fay often centered holiday gatherings and family dinner conversations on current affairs and global headlines, even before her kids’ feet could touch the floor while seated at the dining room table; and despite the limitations on her mobility and finances, Fay’s voracious appetite for books and media on travel, history, culture, and specifically British period dramas and PBS documentaries, gave her a depth of knowledge that would rival that of any PhD. An intensely private person, these pursuits were never for bragging rights or competition, but for her own enjoyment and the for the benefit of her children and their upbringing.

Surviving are Fay’s sisters Dottie, Bonnie and Cathy; Fay’s children who all live in the Puget Sound region—twin sons David K. Robson, III (Jennifer Ramirez Robson) and Paul Robson (Marlo DeLange), and daughter Linda Robson (Geoff Puett); and grandchildren Kevin and Joanne.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 22 at First Lutheran Church, 524 South “I” Street in Tacoma (98405). Since Fay’s entire wardrobe was some variation of blue for as long as anyone can remember, attendees are invited to wear their favorite navy blue attire or other shade of blue to celebrate Fay’s life and remember her fondly with her favorite color. A reception will immediately follow at a location to be announced. Fay’s final rest will be inurnment at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA with a private family ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Fay Willard to the Northwest Center (www.nwcenter.org), a Seattle-area non-profit dedicated to disability inclusion and anti-ableism with programs, training, and support for children and adults with disabilities and their families.

Messages of encouragement or sympathy to the Willard/Robson Family may be expressed in the online guestbook at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com.