Celebrating a century: Margaret Robinson turns 100
Margaret (Mickey) Caldwell Robinson celebrated her 100th birthday on July 30. She marked the occasion with a gathering of family and cherished friends this past Saturday at the Van Zandt Country Club. When asked the secret to her long life she says with a smile, “I like it here so I decided to stay.” Mickey was born on July 30, 1915, in Montell to William Martin Caldwell and Alice Whitfield. She had one younger brother Maxwell. As a young girl, Mickey lived in many Texas towns including Lubbock, Dallas and San Antonio. Her first aspiration was to be a detective. Later, she became obsessed with aviation and wanted to be a pilot. She remembers following Admiral Byrd and his Antarctic explorations and that she wished it could have been her instead of the Boy Scout he picked to go on one expedition.
In 1933, Mickey graduated from Oak Cliff High School in Dallas. During that same time, she met Mikell Haden Robinson in a church youth organization. They were married in 1935 at Christ Episcopal Church in Dallas.
Mike was an optician in downtown Dallas and Mickey worked as a secretary in a chemical company. By 1939 they had saved enough money to buy their first home. Their daughter Margaret Elaine (Elaine) was born in 1941; their son Martin Mikell (Mart) in 1945. Mickey was very involved in her children’s lives volunteering at their schools and being a Cub Scout den mother.
In 1957 Mickey and Mike purchased land in Van Zandt County. They lived in Dallas, but spent weekends improving the land and raising cattle. They permanently moved to the farm in 1963. Moving from the city to the country required some adjustment because of the different, slower lifestyle but Mickey soon became an active volunteer with Child Protective Services, the Friends of the Library, and joined the Van Zandt Country Club where she golfed and played duplicate bridge regularly. Mickey was also an avid bird-watcher and enjoyed oil painting, sewing and reading.
In 1968, Mickey welcomed her first grand-daughter Margaret (Meg). In 1977 her second grand-daughter Mikell Joel was born, followed by a grandson Martin Mikell Jr. (Rob) in 1978. She also now has four great-grandchildren—two in California, and two in Pennsylvania.
Mickey and Mike travelled to west Texas and Mexico in 1972 on a birding trip. Mickey remembers that they took a train to Copper Canyon and also visited Topolobompa and Los Mochos where they saw many birds. That was her favorite vacation because she was able to see and do so many different, interesting, and wonderful things.
They continued to raise cattle until 2002 when Mickey and Mike moved to Austin to be near their daughter Elaine and son Mart. Sadly, Mike had a fatal heart attack in 2003 at the age of 89.
When she was 90, Mickey achieved a life-long dream to visit London, England and Paris, France. She spent her 98th birthday in Los Angeles, Calif., with her grand-daughters and great-grandchildren.
A two-time cancer survivor, Mickey is in good health all considered. She continued to play duplicate bridge until very recently and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also likes to play solitaire on her iPad and check her Facebook page.
