STEVE ROBBINS

Stephen Wayne Robbins died peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 25, just two months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by love in his final days. Steve’s last moments in this world saw the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains facing the window at the front of his home in Lexington, where he raised three children, ran a successful business and lived with his beloved partner Wade.

Steve was born June 3, 1951, in Hereford, Texas, the eldest son of Ruth and Frank Robbins’s six children. He spent his youth on the farm learning everything he could about farming, nature and homemaking. Early in his life he realized his innate creativity and the joy of making things look beautiful.

Steve graduated from Hereford High School in 1969 and attended Texas Tech University to study accounting. He decided his heart was in fashion design and transferred to Dallas Fashion Merchandising College, where he found tremendous joy in doing what he loved. He began his career in design in New York City, but the culture shock of city life sent him back to Hereford where he built a feed yard with his dad. He then returned to design as the business manager of H. Dean Pierce Associates, an architectural and design firm in Lubbock, Texas. He would work there for 20 years.

In 1978, Steve met Kristy Hamilton. Together, they made a beautiful family of three children: Lauren, Stephen and Pierce. In 1994, they moved to Lexington to nurture their family and start a business, Hamilton-Robbins, which specialized in Interior Design and boasted a popular storefront on Main Street for many years.

Steve came out to his family and friends in 2005. In 2007, he met his beloved Wade Guillory. Together, they shared 16 years of love, travel, design projects and raising grandchildren. Living authentically with a man he loved were some of the best years of his life.

Steve hopes he is remembered as a friend to many. He never met a stranger and was happiest when helping, teaching and mentoring others.

He is survived by his partner Wade Guillory; his children Lauren Holder (Jay), Stephen Robbins (Meggan), and Pierce Robbins (Cassady), and their mother Kristy Hamilton; his grandchildren Owen, Charlie, Nolan, Lucy Rae, Hank and Tilly; all of his siblings, nieces and nephews; many chosen family; and his doting dogs Barney and Frankie.

A funeral will take place at Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington on Friday, March 1, at 1 p.m. The service will be viewable online at https://www.youtube.com/@ graceepiscopalchurch6604.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Rockbridge Area Health Center, formally the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, in Steve’s name: https://www.rockahc. org/donate/.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory. N-G