OBITUARY: Leslie "Clyde" Robertson
Leslie "Clyde" Robertson, 92, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at Hillview Healthcare Center in Vienna.
He was born Feb. 3, 1922, in a log cabin about 2 miles from Creal Springs to Jesse and Alla (Kelly) Robertson. He married Waneida Davis in June of 1946 at Wasson Baptist Church. They shared 61 years together. Clyde attended Southern Illinois Normal University and became a teacher. When he was 19, he taught the seventh and eighth grades with a class of 52 students at Creal Springs School. He also coached the basketball team.
The next year he was drafted into the army on Nov. 11, 1942. He served in the Burma, India, China area during WWII as a cryptographer with the rank of staff sergeant. He was discharged from the army at the end of the war and returned to Creal Springs where he became the first commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Creal Springs. After the war he taught agricultural night classes to veterans. Next, he became a rural letter mail carrier in Creal Springs for 36 years. He received an award for driving 1 million miles without an accident on the mail route. During this time he and his brother Bill also started Robinwoods lake lot development at the Lake of Egypt. He served two terms on the Marion Unit 2 school board and worked diligently to keep the Creal Springs School open. He also was a strong advocate for construction of the new Adams School near Creal Springs. He served many years as an alderman on the Creal Springs city board, the Park Board, and was instrumental in starting the Wonder Water Reunion and parade. Because of all of his volunteer work, in 1996, an annual award was established in his name called The Clyde Robertson Community Service Award. Everyone knew that Clyde thought that Creal Springs was the best place in the world.
Clyde was a faithful member of his beloved Creal Springs United Methodist Church where he served all areas of the church. He was a Sunday school teacher, superintendent, church board member, choir leader, Bible study leader, building fund treasurer, participated in the church's Christmas plays, and was an eager volunteer for any task the church needed. He had 61 years of perfect Sunday school attendance. If you missed church on Sunday, you were sure to get a friendly call from Clyde Robertson saying that you were missed and hoped to see you the next Sunday.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, gardening, traveling, hunting, and his favorite thing was just to talk and enjoy all the people he met, knew, and loved. The amazing part of this is that even after a spinal cord injury in January of 1990 that made him spend most of his time in a wheelchair, he accomplished more than most of us think about attempting. He always remained upbeat, enjoyed life, and never met a stranger!
He has one son, Dan (Terrie) Robertson of Creal Springs; three grandchildren, Demita, Brent and Heather Robertson; two brothers, Jim Robertson and Earl Robertson; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Hearn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Waneida; son, Tom; daughter, Diana Kay; brothers, Paul and Bill; sisters, Afton Baker, Imogene Hilliard and Marie Baysinger.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at the Creal Springs United Methodist Church. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the church also with the Rev. Ed Hoke officiating. Burial will be at County Line Cemetery near Creal Springs.
Donations may be made to the Creal Springs United Methodist Church, Creal Springs Park Board, or Adams School in lieu of flowers.
Cosby-Sloan Funeral home of Creal Springs is in charge of arrangements.