Delbert Wayne Robertson's Obituary
SERVICES- 2:00 pm Monday, January 30, 2017 in the Clarendon College Harned Sisters Fine Arts Auditorium in Clarendon with Rev. Bill Hodges, officiating.
INTERMENT- Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors.
Viewing will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Robertson Funeral Directors in Shamrock with family receiving friends for visitation from 5:00-7:30 PM.
Viewing will then be held on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon with family receiving friends for visitation from 5:00-7:30 PM.
Delbert was born June 17, 1934 in Clarendon to George Andrew “Andy” and Sallie Elizabeth Robertson. Delbert is a native of Clarendon and a 1952 graduate of Clarendon High School. Delbert is also a 1953 graduate of Landig College of Mortuary Science in Houston. He then volunteered for the US Army near the end of the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso. In August 1953, he married Patsy Darlene Wallace in Clarendon. He returned home to Clarendon in 1956 and became a funeral director for Murphy Funeral Home for almost 10 years before obtaining a job with Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors in Amarillo in the mid 1960's. Delbert then came back home and worked again for Murphy Funeral Home. He then opened Clarendon Funeral Home in October 1973. In December 1973, Delbert Robertson along with Maurice Schooler and Mack Gordon, funeral directors from Amarillo, purchased Murphy Funeral Home. Murphy Funeral Home and Clarendon Funeral Home ownerships combined and the name was changed to Schooler-Gordon-Robertson Funeral Directors. In 1975, Patrick Robertson, Delbert's son, graduated from mortuary school and joined the firm. In January 1977, Delbert and Patrick bought out Schooler-Gordon and the named changed to Robertson Funeral Directors. In 1998, Delbert and Patrick opened a satellite location in Claude. In October 2003, his grandson Chuck joined the firm. The Robertson’s, purchased funeral homes in McLean in 2009, Shamrock in 2011, and Memphis in 2009, and bought out their competitor in Memphis in 2015. After Patrick’s death in 2014, he then became partners with his grandson, Chuck. He has been a licensed funeral director & embalmer in Texas since 1957 and was awarded as a 60 year licensee at the Texas Funeral Directors Association convention this past June.
Delbert is a lifetime member of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Dept. and served as the Fire Chief of the Department for 32 years from 1980 until 2012 when he retired from that position & has been a lifetime member since 1953. He also a certified firefighter through State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas.
Delbert has served more years as a regent than any other board member for Clarendon College, and is the longest continuous member of the Clarendon College board of regents. He was a member of the very first independent board of regents and was a board member when the new Clarendon College campus was built and opened in 1968. He has served in various board offices and has served under many of the college presidents. He is also a member of the Clarendon Lions Club where he has served in many offices including past president. He was a member of the Donley County Hospital District board when the new hospital was built in 1971 and held various offices on that board as well. He is also a member of American Legion Adamson-Lane Post 287 Hedley Chapter & is a 50 year member of the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700, AF & AM.
Delbert has been awarded funeral director of the year 3 times by the Panhandle Funeral Directors Association for the years 1979, 1985-1986, & 2004-2005. He also was awarded the Panhandle Firemen's & Fire Marshals' Association Firefighter of the Year in 2008. The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce bestowed their highest honor, The Saints Roost Award, on him in 1984 and again in 2001. In August 2009, he married Naomi Lowe in Red River and they made their home in Clarendon and Shamrock.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY – his parents; his first wife, Patsy on June 7, 2008; his son, Patrick on December 22, 2014; his step daughter, Linda Allison in 2015; 2 sisters, Maxine Howe and Georgia Speed; a brother, Glenn Robertson; a daughter in law, Edie Robertson.
SURVIVORS – his wife, Naomi Lowe of Shamrock; a daughter, Debbie Thompson and husband Michael of Clarendon; 3 grandchildren, Greg Collins and wife Jennifer of Bushland, Tiffanie Word of Clarendon, and Chuck Robertson and wife Amanda of Clarendon; 7 great grandchildren, Abi & Maci Collins, Tristan Black, Gavin & Aiden Word, Jaxon Robertson, and Keighen Crump; his sister, Margaret Vines of Wellington; a daughter in law, Vicky Robertson of Clarendon; 3 step sons, Gary Lowe and Dennis Lowe both of Shamrock, and Boe Lowe and wife Sue of Lumberton; a step daughter, Glenda Harvey and husband Mike of Jonestown; a step son in law, Con Allison of Shamrock; his adopted grandsons, Cameron Word and Brayden Phillips; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
MEMORIALS- In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that memorials be made to the Clarendon College Foundation, Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Citizens Cemetery Association, or a favorite charity.
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