Ronald Maull Robinson, sports hall of fame inductee
Ronald “Ronnie” Maull Robinson, 72, son of Cora Robinson Washington and the late Joseph E. Seymore, departed this life Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, in Beebe Medical Center surrounded by family and friends.
Ronnie was raised in Lewes, where he attended Dupont Avenue School and graduated from William C. Jason Comprehensive High School in 1958. While attending Jason, Ronnie was noted for his outstanding play on the baseball field. “Pard Maull” as he was affectionately called by many who knew him, was a “lefty” and could throw a “wicked breaking ball” that caught the attention of professional scouts.
A knee injury suffered in an automobile accident shortly after graduating high school interrupted Ronnie’s dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Nevertheless, this did not erase his love for baseball, as he played for many years in the all-black Delmarva League as a pitcher and first baseman for the Lewes Cardinals. Because of his outstanding performance on the baseball field, Ronnie was inducted into the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame in April 2005.
During his early years, Ronnie attended St. George AME Church and enjoyed teaching Sunday school. Even late into his adult life, you could often hear Ronnie proudly telling others of how he was a Sunday school teacher.
Ronnie was a supervisor at the now defunct Doxsee clam processing plant in Lewes. After that facility closed, he joined the operations and maintenance crew at the Lewes University of Delaware campus. Ronnie retired from that position in March of 2005.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his grandparents Henry and Leonia Maull; father Joseph E. Seymore; sister Julia “Bonnie” Coyle; brother Joseph “Joey” Seymore and his son, Ronald Ward Sr.
He leaves to cherish fond memories his parents, Cora and the Rev. Collins Washington; four daughters, Teresa Johnson, Trudy Maker, Michelle Ward and Phyllis Gibbs; one son, Adrian Jones; four sisters, Leonia Robinson, Nancy (Bill) Collick, Linda (Gerald) Echols, and Barbara Seymore; three brothers, Mark Gooch, Wayne Gooch and Clay Seymore; a devoted nephew and caregiver, James H. Robinson; loving companion, Marie “Butchie” Loper; and a steadfast friend, Pauline Hayward; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services will be at noon, Friday, Feb. 22, at Friendship Baptist Church, 500 West Fourth Street, Lewes, where friends may call two hours prior.
