Robin Elaine Wellso, daughter of Stanley and Carol (Nemec) Wellso, was born 18 January 1962.  Robin graduated in 1980 from Okemos High School.  She had 2 sisters who also were OHS graduates.

Robin furthered her education and graduated from Michigan State University in 1984 with a degree in hotel and restaurant management.  She was employed by Dillon Inns and entered their management training program located in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.  Sadly Robin was found murdered 29 December 1984 in the southeast part of that city.  Robbery may have been the motive. 

Robin was laid to rest in East Lawn Memory Garden, Okemos, Ingham County.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 1 January 1985

OKEMOS WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN GRAND RAPIDS

Robin Elaine Wellso was a good friend, an ideal daughter and a hard worker, who was about to embark on a new career following her graduation from Michigan State University.

That's how a co-worker and her family described the Okemos woman whose body was found in Grand Rapids shortly after noon Monday on the back porch of a vacant home in the southeast part of the city.

The emotion comes and goes for Stanley and Carol Wellso as they talk about their daughter and try to piece together what happened and why.

"We haven't even talked about tomorrow," said Carol, her voice breaking slightly.  "She was very intelligent, capable, confident, a beautiful girl."

Robin had never given them a minute of trouble, she said.  Her husband, a U.S. Agriculture Department research entomologist and adjunct professor at MSU, added that Robin was "the type of daughter anyone would be proud of."

The couple had just returned to their Okemos home from Grand Rapids, where they had been since Saturday evening.  Her 23-year-old daughter's purse had been stolen, leading her to believe the motive may have been robbery.  Robin's mother said, "This wasn't her trouble.  She was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

The Wellsos were alerted about 4 p.m. Saturday by Robin's roommate, Valerie McGlone, who became concerned when Robin failed to return.  The two MSU graduates and sorority sisters shared an apartment at 723 Lake Drive S.E., Grand Rapids.

The girls were good friends and both had just started new jobs - Robin was a manager-trainee at the Dillon Inn, a Midwest motel chain, and Valerie was working at a department store, her mother said.  "They kept good tabs on each other."

The Wellso's drove immediately to Grand Rapids and arrived at about 6 p.m. to begin the vigil for their daughter who was last seen at 2 a.m. Saturday on the city's southeast side asking for directions.  It ended at 12:20 p.m. Monday, when Grand Rapids police discovered her body on the back port of the vacant house in the 400 block of Charles Street, said Lt. Victor Gillis.

An autopsy was scheduled for late today, he added.  Gillis said police believe the cause of death was from a stab wound or a blow to the head.  No suspects are in custody.

The victim and two female companions went to two bars Friday night, police said.  One of them later offered to drive the victim home but she declined, her roommate told police.  Dave Vincent, general manager of the Dillon Inns in Grand Rapids, said Robin started working there in September following her graduation from MSU last spring with a degree in hotel and restaurant management.

She was training to become assistant manager at a new Dillon Inn set to open in Lansing in March, he said.  Robin would have started her new job in April

Vincent said he worked closely with her, "She was a real good worker - a hard worker," he said

"She was a good friend," he said.  "A very happy person, who enjoyed life."

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 2 January 1985

ROBIN WELLSO, SLAYING VICTIM

An autopsy was to be held today on the body of Robin E. Wellso, 22, of 2181 Riverwood Drive, Grand Rapids police said.

The body of Wellso, a 1980 graduate of Okemos High School, and a 1984 graduate of Michigan State University, was found on the back porch of an abandoned home on the southeast side of Grand Rapids.

Foul play was suspected in her death.  She was found about 12:20 p.m. Monday by Grand Rapids police after having been missing since 2 a.m. Saturday.

She was employed by Dillon Inns as a trainee for an assistant general manager position with a Dillon Inn opening in Lansing later this month.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the University Lutheran Church, 1020 S. Harrison Road, in East Lansing.

She is survived by her parents, Stanley and Carol Wellso; her maternal grandmother, Margaret Jorgensen, of Madison, Wis.; her paternal grandmother, Esther Wellso, of Oshkosh, Wis.; two sisters, Sandra Wellso-Trapani, of Madison Heights, and Sallie Anne Wellso, a Western Michigan University student.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 3 January 1985

ROBIN E. WELLSO

2180 RIVERWOOD DR.

OKEMOS

Funeral services will be held Sat., 2 p.m. at the University Lutheran Church, 1020 S. Harrison, East Lansing with the Rev. James Kocher, Pastor officiating and the Rev. Joseph Anderson and Rev. Gustav Kopka assisting.  Interment will be in East Lawn Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends at the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing Fri. 2-3 & 7-9 p.m.