Betty Soskin, Venerated Park Ranger, Returns to Work After Robbery

America's oldest National Park Service ranger is back on the job in Richmond after recovering from a violent robbery at her home last month.

Friends and colleagues on Tuesday welcomed Betty Soskin, 94, back to her post as a guide at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, where she has worked for the past 10 years.

Donning her wide-brimmed ranger hat and green jacket, Soskin said she was overwhelmed by the welcome back and is looking forward to getting back into her routine at the park's museum.

“This is where support is, this is where friendship is, and this is where a meaningful life occurs. This is the place I wanted to be," she said.

A little more than two weeks ago, Soskin was the victim of a late-night break-in at her home in Richmond's Hilltop neighborhood.

A man broke into her condo near midnight on June 27, punched Soskin in the face several times and dragged her out of her bedroom. Soskin was able to break free and crawl into her bathroom and lock the door.

The intruder made off with Soskin’s cellphone, tablet and laptop computer -- as well as a commemorative coin given to her last December by President Obama during the White House tree-lighting ceremony.

Obama immediately announced he would replace the coin stolen in the robbery, and Soskin's friends and co-workers have set up a fund to replace other stolen items.

Soskin says that while the bruises on her face have healed, she's still coping with the trauma of the attack.

“I was never afraid of people before -- I used to ask drug dealers on my block to register voters!" Soskin said. "I used to feel invincible. That's changed now.”

Still, she says she has no intention of retiring.

“I’m planning on going straight from the park to the cemetery,” she said.

Richmond police Lt. Felix Tan says no suspect has been identified.

“This is a repulsive, heinous crime," he said. "We’re taught in society to respect our elders, not to victimize them. We’re working very hard to find this person."