of Springhill, AR

March 28, 1918 - June 27, 2014

The life and times of Clara Elizabeth Strain Robinette
The spirit of Clara Robinette slipped from the earthly bonds of her body to the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on June 27, 2014, in her home in Springhill, with her children near. She was born on March 28, 1918, near Rose Bud, AR, as the middle child of Porter Chester and Jewel Agnes Ramer Strain. Her father was a carpenter, as well as a farmer. He took down the old home of his grandfather, Thomas Howard Davis at Rose Bud, for lumber to build a new home on Robins Street in Conway. She could recall her family's move to Conway in 1928 to provide for better education for the children. They attended school in a one room schoolhouse located on land which her Grandfather, W. D. Strain, had provided. On enrolling in school in Conway, all of the children except the oldest were placed in a grade behind. Sometime later the oldest and youngest sisters were enrolled in the Teachers Training School in Conway. While in highschool, she worked at Ben Franklins through the vocational training program and worked as a seamstress from her home. Her mother was pleased that she saved her money and bought her own bedroom suite, which she used throughout her life. She graduated from Conway High School in 1938, and attended Teachers College for one semester. Her plans to return to College were interrupted by her father and she returned to work at Ben Franklins. She married her one love C. H. Robinette on January 5, 1941, at her home in Conway. They moved to Newport, AR after their marriage, where C. H. was an Agriculture and Manual Training teacher at Lakeside High School. The following fall a move to Valley View, AR occurred. C. H had accepted a position as a Vocational Agriculture Teacher at Valley View High School, where they remained for 2 years. After C. H. was inducted into the Army during WWII, Clara became a Women's Ordnance Worker at the Arkansas Ordnance Plant in Jacksonville. She was extremely proud that she contributed to the War effort scooping powder for the detonators for bombs. She felt her efforts might help save her husband, brothers and brother in-law who were serving in the military at that time. After the War, she and C. H. resided at the Pine Bluff Arsenal where he was employed for a short time. In 1946, they moved their family to El Paso, AR. She resided there until 1988, when she relocated to Clinton, AR to be near her son, Chesley and his family. She maintained her independence in her own home until 2007. At the age of 90, she moved to Springhill with her daughter, Elizabeth and son in-law Bill Simmons. She was quick to tell visitors that she always wanted three children and was granted that wish in her old age with the special love that she and Bill shared.
She will be remembered as a Christian woman of integrity, who was devoted to her family and friends. She had a gentle and loving spirit and was quick to tell you that she never met a person who had not been good and kind to her. She was a member of the El Paso Baptist for 40 years and Clinton First Baptist Church during her years there. Her final Church home, Springhill Baptist Church, brought her joy and gave her peace through the various home ministries and frequent visits from Brother Ed Stephenson.
Clara was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Chesley Horris Robinette. Her parents Porter C. and Jewel A. Ramer Strain, two sisters Agnes Strain Erbach of Conway, Kathleen Strain Clay of Hardy and two brothers Jack Strain and Chester Strain of Conway. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Elizabeth Ann Robinette Simmons and husband Bill Simmons; her son Chesley H. Robinette, Jr. and wife Linda Blakemore Robinette; six grandchildren: Johnson Taylor Gregory, Jr. (Shelia Woodard Gregory) of Hartsville, TN; Amy E. Gregory Townsend (Ray Townsend), Ann Gregory Vose Johnson (Jake Johnson) both of Stuttgart; Renia Robinette, Chesley H. "Robbie" Robinette, III (Heather Holloway Robinette) of Sherwood; and James Brian Robinette (Kiley Hoagland Robinette) of Bella Vista, AR; and seven great grandchildren: Adam Townsend; Wesley, Alex and Taylor Vose, all of Stuttgart; Nathan Chesley Robinette of Sherwood, Lacey Elizabeth Gregory of Hartsville, TN, and Nolan James Robinette of Bella Vista, AR.
A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 29, 2014, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Conway, with Bro. Ed Stephenson officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00p.m. Sunday, at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.

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