David Preston “Dave” Robinette, age 81, of Meadowview, Va., passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness.
He was engaged in various aspects of agriculture his entire life. Dave was raised on a dairy farm in Western Wise County, graduated from East Stone Gap High School in 1955, obtained a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture in 1959 and a Master's degree in 1965 from Virginia Tech, taught Agriculture in Lee and Montgomery Counties, and served as an Extension Agent in Smyth and Washington Counties. Dave spent the following 35 years operating his own beef and tobacco farms near Meadowview along with a turf management business. He was an active member of Lebanon United Methodist Church and the Meadowview Ruritan Club.
Dave was predeceased by his parents, T. Robinette and Kathleen Necessary Robinette; wife, Margaret Dutton Robinette; and an older brother, B.F. Robinette.
He is survived by his son, Mark Robinette and wife Lorena, of Marietta, Ga.; brother, Bruce Robinette, of Bristol, Va.; sister, Margaret Malgery, of Allentown, Pa.; and grandson, Gabriel Robinette.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 12, 2016, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service with the Rev. Paul Griffith officiating. Interment will follow in Knollkreg Memorial Park where Lyle Carty, Philburn Crane, Jason Moore, Glenn Orifled, Mark Orfield, and Harry Paris will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2016, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lebanon United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 667, Glade Spring, Va. 24340, or the East Stone Gap High School “Tiger” Scholarship at Mountain Empire Community College, 3441 Mountain Empire Rd., Big Stone Gap, Va. 24219.
Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of David Preston “Dave” Robinette is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).