Obituaries

Charles "Whitey" Robertson

Photo of Charles "Whitey" Robertson
Charles "Whitey" Robertson Sr. was born on January 11, 1922 in Centerville, Arkansas and died December 9th, 2016 in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 94. Charles was given the nickname ‘Whitey' as a young boy because his hair was nearly white blonde, a striking compliment to his beautiful blue eyes. As a child, Whitey explored the far reaches of rural Yell County, learning to hunt and fish in its woods and creeks. His parents, Bunk and Rhea Robertson, eventually opened a gas station and store and put Whitey to work as a young boy, instructing him to sit atop an ice filled cooler and not retrieve a cold beer for anyone until he had their nickel securely in hand. Whitey considered farming as a career, and attended Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville to study agriculture. As a student, he enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard and was called into federal service with the 206th Coast Artillery on January 6, 1941. After anti-aircraft training at Ft. Bliss, Texas, Robertson was called into service for what he was told would be one year, and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands, Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Rumor had it that his unit was to be demobilized before Christmas, on December 7th, 1941. But that date brought a very different outcome. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Robertson's ‘one year' turned into four years as a gunner on 37mm weapons, enduring combat against Japanese troops in the Battle of the Aleutian Islands, amid the backdrop of the frigid Bering Sea. Robertson was eventually discharged from the Army in August of 1945, and thanks to the G.I. bill went on to dental school at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Whitey didn't go to Kansas City alone. On January 30th, 1946 he married his sweetheart, Marie Smith, of Dardanelle, AR. The couple had met several years earlier at the Dardanelle Armory, dancing to the live music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. He proposed after returning from service in WWII and the couple wed at the First United Methodist Church in Russellville. While in Kansas City, Marie worked at Capitol Records to help pay Whitey's dental school tuition. The couple welcomed their first child, son Charles Duane Jr., in May of 1950. Their second child, a baby girl, arrived at St. Mary's hospital in June of 1964, where Whitey and Charley filled out paperwork naming her Joy Ellen without ever consulting Marie. During lunch hours in the early part of his career, Whitey would often close his office and head over to his parents' boarding house restaurant, The Robertson House, to help serve fried chicken and fresh hot rolls to locals and hungry travelers arriving at the Russellville Train Depot. It was a group effort, with sister and brother-in-law, Polly and Heartsill Bartlett, often joining the effort to serve the masses. In 1954 Whitey and Marie built a house at 215 South Quanah Street, next door to Polly and Heartsill, where they would live for more than 56 years until they moved to Springfield, Missouri to be closer to Joy, Vernie and their granddaughters. During his time in Russellville, Whitey served on numerous civic boards, was always active in the First United Methodist Church, was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge, served as President of the N.W. District of the Arkansas State Dental Association, and took particular pride in cooking ‘Chili for Children' with the Age to Age Ministry at Arkansas Tech's Wesley Foundation. Whitey loved frying fish and hushpuppies on the patio, fishing and teaching every kid in town how to water ski on Lake Dardanelle, playing golf at the Russellville Country Club, deer hunting at the Waldo Deer Camp, twice-yearly trips to Shangri-La Resort in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, and fishing trips with Heartsill, R.D. Howell and Milton Howell at the Kingfish Lodge on Lake Ouachita. In his later years, he enjoyed the annual trek to Big Cedar Lodge for the annual ‘Whiteyfest' birthday celebration. Whitey Robertson is survived by two children: son, Charles Robertson, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas and wife, Debra of Little Rock, and daughter, Joy Robertson Fountain and husband, Vernie Fountain of Springfield, Missouri. Whitey and Marie have three grandchildren, J.D. Robertson and wife Audrey of Dallas, Texas, and Ellen and Audrey Fountain of Springfield, Missouri and 3 step grandchildren Sarah Thomas, Casey Thomas and wife Brittany of Little Rock, Arkansas and Kim Hale of Springfield, MO. They also have two great-grandchildren, Hadley and Ford Robertson of Dallas, Texas, and two step great-grandchildren, Riley Thomas and Caitlynn Howell of Little Rock. The funeral service will be 1 p.m., Saturday, December 17, 2016 at First United Methodist Church with burial in Oakland Cemetery and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. An open visitation will be Friday from 1-7 p.m., the family will receive friends from 5-7p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Wesley Foundation, and/or First United Methodist Church in Russellville, Arkansas. Pallbearers include Charley Robertson, J.D. Robertson, Vernie Fountain, Jim White, Steed White and Casey Thomas. Honorary Pallbearers include Van Moores, David Bartlett, Kent Bartlett, John Van Horn, Jr., the UMKC Dental School Class of 1950, and the loving staff of caregivers and administrators at the Manor at Elfindale in Springfield, Missouri. Dad, we're certain Heaven will offer plenty of football games and golf tournaments, Rotel and Fritos and a never-ending flow of Evan Williams. Cheers to you – we miss you, and we'll see you again on the other side. The online obituary and guestbook is available at www.shinnfuneral.com.

Published December 16, 2016

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