Elizabeth ( “Betty” ) Patterson Robinson, 94 of Spring Lake died May 20th 2022 peacefully of natural causes at her home.

Born in 1928, she grew up in South Orange and Spring Lake NJ. She graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood NJ, where her creativity bloomed, including making sketches for the high school yearbook and her involvement in theatre arts. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design on a full scholarship, where she graduated with a B.F.A. from the textile department in 1951. After graduation, she pursued a career in textiles, working as a colorist for Waverly fabrics in New York City. She created drapery and upholstery fabric designs and then travelled to textile mills in the South to supervise production, making sure that the colors were true and justified with the designs.

Her textile experiences were wide ranging, taking her throughout the United States and  to France, Germany, Italy and Japan. She was a member of the international Color Marketing Group.  She created a collection of fabric and wallpaper based on design inspirations from the historic town of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. Later in her career, she worked with Nordic House Designs, coloring floral fabrics used to manufacture women’s accessories that now are considered to be vintage.

In Spring Lake, she made  contributions to many community activities. For St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, where she was a lifelong member, she designed and constructed large liturgical fabric banners for the church sanctuary. She and her late husband, Gilbert J. Robinson, frequently spent time tending flower beds at both St. Andrew’s Church and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. She was an avid gardener and talented floral arranger, as well as a member of the Garden Club of Spring Lake.

As the granddaughter of the first mayor of Spring Lake, she possessed a keen interest in the town’s history and was a member of the Spring Lake Historical Society. She volunteered, donated items and periodically arranged exhibitions at the society’s museum on Warren Avenue.

She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, Dr. Robert Donald “Doc” Patterson and his wife, Ruth Dale Patterson; her sister, June Dale Patterson Rounds; and one nephew.

She is survived by two sons, David and James; her granddaughter Charlotte; her brother, Donald Dale Patterson, D.O. (Sissy); and two nieces and seven nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Memorial Service on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 11:00am at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 907 4th Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762

Expressions of sympathy may be made by donating in her memory to an animal rescue organization of your choice. 

Arrangements by the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall.

To offer condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com