Obituaries

Dorothy O'Blines RobinsonLittle League Baseball Coach

Dorothy Frances Juanita O'Blines Robinson, 69, who worked as a juvenile corrections officer in 1980s and coached baseball for Arlington Little League, died Jan. 25 of cardiac arrest at Reston Hospital.

Mrs. Robinson, who was known as Dottie, was at her best when she was working with or helping children, her family said.

During her five years as a juvenile corrections officer in Alexandria, it was not unusual for her to open her home to troubled youths without strong family support systems.

"Our family became their familial support, and she would not give up on any one of them, even those who returned to former bad habits," said her daughter, Michelle Robinson Boykins of Herndon.

"She believed in the good in all people, especially children."

Mrs. Robinson was born in Cambridge, Mass., and left her home town after marrying. She traveled around the world with her military husband to bases in Germany and France. During this time, she cultivated a love for coaching youth baseball. A mother of six, she also was a den mother, Cub Scout leader and Girl Scouts helper, and served as a youth advocate on several military bases over the years.

She settled in Arlington County in the late 1970s, where she lived for more than 25 years. She was the first female baseball coach for Arlington Little League and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2001.

Her marriage to Howard E. Robinson ended in divorce.

She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Falls Church.

A son, Randal Robinson, died in 2000.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include four other children, Pamela O'Blines of Glassboro, N.J., Wanda Robinson Satterfield of Herndon, Phillip Robinson of Fairfax County and Edouard Robinson of Arlington; a sister; a brother; four grandsons; and one great-grandson.