* Mary Robinson; Community Volunteer

Mary Ardapple Robinson, a volunteer worker in the San Fernando Valley for the PTA and the Republican Party, has died at a Van Nuys hospital. She was 77.

A resident of West Hills, Mrs. Robinson died Thursday of cancer, according to friends.

Born on a farm in Morrison, Ill., she graduated from a hospital nurse’s training program in Oak Park, Ill., and came to the Valley in 1938. She worked as an emergency room nurse at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Van Nuys from 1952 to 1965.

Mrs. Robinson served as president of the Haddon Avenue School Parent Teacher Assn. in Pacoima from 1952-54, president of the San Fernando Valley Parent Teacher Council from 1956-58 and served on various committees for the 31st District PTA. Mrs. Robinson was also president of the Canoga Park-West Hills Republican Women’s Club, Federated, from 1971-72, a member of the California Federation of Republican Women since 1982 and a member of the county and state Republican Party since 1954. From 1984 to 1989, she served on the state Animal Health Technician Examining Committee.

In 1973, she was honored with a resolution by the California State Assembly and was designated Volunteer of the Year in 1987 by the American Heart Assn.

Mrs. Robinson is survived by her sons Bill Robinson and Ted Robinson; a brother; two grandchildren and a great-grandson. Her husband, Sam Robinson, died in 1981.

A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Kirk O’ the Valley Presbyterian Church, 19620 Vanowen St., Reseda, where Mrs. Robinson was a deacon and an elder. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mrs. Robinson’s name to the American Heart Assn.