Ludmila Robson

Ludmila Elliott Robson, wife, mother, and patron of the arts, passed from this life to the next on October 25, leaving behind friends, family, and a lifetime of good works.

Visitation is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, November 2, at MMS-Payne Funeral Home in Claremore, Oklahoma. A public graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 3 at Woodlawn Cemetery with a reception following at First Presbyterian Church, 102 E. 4th Street.

Ludmila was born at Tulsa’s St. John’s Hospital on January 1, 1935, to Harold Samuel Elliott and Edith Marguerite McCutchen Elliott. After graduating from Tulsa Central High School in 1952, she continued her education at the University of Tulsa and Syracuse University in New York. She was named Miss Syracuse University, attending the Cotton Bowl Classic as one of the princesses. 

She also began taking ballet lessons at an early age from “Miss Eva” Matlagova, mother of Moscelyne Larkin, one of Oklahoma’s five famed Native American ballerinas. After college, Ludmila followed in her instructor’s footsteps and opened her first ballet school in Pryor, Oklahoma. Later, she was a loyal and longtime supporter of the Tulsa Ballet Theatre, founded by Ms. Larkin. Ludmila was also a driving force behind the construction of the Robson Performing Arts Center at Claremore High School, along with being responsible for the Art Deco design elements that enliven the building. In addition to her longstanding support of the performing and visual arts at Claremore Public Schools, she was a benefactor of the Oklahoma Arts Institute Summer Camp for talented high schoolers from all over the state. 

In 1952, the Elliott family purchased a ranch west of Claremore near the town of Keetonville. While Ludmila was living there, she met her future husband, Frank Robson, when her father contacted him to help process a steer. A first date between the two followed, and they were married in Claremore on November 9, 1957. Their three sons, Lloyd, Mark, and Sam, were cherished by Ludmila, as were Frank and the rest of her extended family, including her granddaughter Grace Robson. They, in turn, were devoted to her. 

Ludmila enjoyed playing tennis and bridge with friends.  Blessed with a great sense of humor, Ludmila was always ready with a quip. Her family remembers with fondness one of her favorite admonitions: “Be good. But if you can’t be good, be careful.” 

Ludmila was predeceased by her parents; her uncle L.W. Elliott and his wife, Deidarica Wilhelmina Elliott; and her brother Lloyd Elliott and his wife, Mary Ann Elliott. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Frank C. Robson, and their sons and families: Frank Lloyd Robson and wife Cindy Robson, Todd and Mandy; Mark Elliott Robson and fiancé Michaela Tomanova; and Samuel Leland Robson, wife Mary Robson, and daughter Grace Robson. She also leaves a nephew, Doug Elliott of Houston, Texas, and a niece, Diane Elliott Deaver of Waco, Texas, along with Diane’s husband, Kyle Deaver, and their children and grandchildren. 

The members of Ludmila’s family extend their deep gratitude to all of her wonderful caregivers, including Katelynn Perkins, Judy Hendricks, Kimberly Tunison, Mamie Tiry, Hunter Reeder, Arizona Woodin, Kaly Ammierman, Melissa Jacks, and Elizabeth Jacks.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the one of the following organizations;

Claremore Public Schools Foundation, https://claremorepublicschoolsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Memoriam-Donor-Form.pdf

Tulsa Ballet https://tulsaballet.org/support2/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4c7-q5SeggMVqCzUAR1TTgzpEAAYASABEgJiCPD_BwE

Salvation Army of Rogers County https://give.salvationarmyaok.org/give/295836/#!/donation/checkout

Presbyterian Youth at 102 E. 4th Street Claremore, OK 74017