Isaac Hillary Robinette, Jr

Isaac Hillary "Ike" Robinette, Jr., 88, of Kingsport, passed away due to an extended illness, on Saturday, November 29, 2014, at Indian Path Hospital.

Born in Hawkins County, TN, on September 14, 1926, Ike graduated from Baileyton High School and East Tennessee State College (now University). He was a Korean War Army veteran and received the Bronze Star for his service. In 1958, he founded Pope-Robinette Insurance Agency with his late brother-in-law, Walter V. Pope. For the next 56 years, Ike was very active in the Kingsport business community. He was also a well-established cattle farmer in Greene and Hawkins Counties and was a member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Ike was a member of the Sertoma Club of Kingsport in which he took great pride in being involved in all of its many activities. He and longtime friend Ted McCown were the only members to have had perfect attendance for 52 years of weekly meetings. He helped establish the Mountain Region Speech and Hearing Center in 1974. He was an avid University of Tennessee football fan, and he loved watching and feeding the birds and squirrels.

Ike was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mona Vineyard Robinette and Isaac Hillary Robinette, Sr.; his stepmother, Beulah Chestnut Robinette; and his sister, Rita Jane Robinette.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mary Webb Robinette, whom he married December 17, 1955; three sisters: Karlene "Kay" Robinette Herther of Bristol, VA, Suella Robinette Pope of Kingsport, and Judy Robinette Ferrell (Virgil) of Myrtle Beach, SC; five nieces: Robin Herther Austin of Brentwood, CA, Wrenda Herther Fuller (Larry) of Abingdon, VA, Marsha Herther Scheusner (Ron) of Columbia, TN, Tanya Pope Samples of Cookeville, TN, and Mona Pope Sitton (Steve) of Johnson City; three nephews: Bradford and Clifton Ferrell of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Travis Ferrell of Newberry, MO; seven great-nieces; two great-nephews; and eight great-great-nieces and nephews. He was greatly loved by all of his family.

Visitation will be held at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport, on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 5-7 p.m., with funeral services at 7 p.m. A graveside service will be conducted at Providence Cemetery, Hwy 70, in Hawkins County on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 11 a.m. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Sertoma Club of Kingsport. Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Region Speech and Hearing Center, 404 Revere St., Kingsport, TN 37660 or to Providence Cemetery, c/o Ruth Robinette, Sleepy Hollow Ln., Greenville, TN 37745.

Cemetery Details