Elaine Robinson Clark (Teacher at Garfield Elementary)

 

Elaine Robinson Clark

Elaine R. Clark, of Mason, passed from this life to the next in Menard, TX, on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at the age of 94+ years.

Elaine was born on March 15, 1922, in Rantoul, Illinois, to James Lee Robinson and Dannie Lee Vandervoort Robinson, while he was temporarily supervising a project there for Alamo Iron Works out of San Antonio, Texas.  Elaine and her siblings grew up in San Antonio, where she graduated from Harlandale High School, eventually attending Southwest Texas State College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas.  While there, Elaine met and married a fellow student in 1942, Ollie E. Clark, from Taylor, TX.  Not long after, Elaine traveled with Ollie around the country to various military stations where he underwent training as a fighter pilot.  When he was sent overseas to China during WWII, Elaine moved in with her parents in San Antonio, where she gave birth to the couple’s first child in 1944, a daughter (Robin).  Upon Ollie’s return, a son (Joe) was born to them in 1946.

Elaine and family moved several times in conjunction with Ollie’s work with the Texas Department of Public Safety.  In each community where they lived, Elaine worked as a public school teacher, teaching various grade levels and subjects.  While raising a family and working full time, she worked diligently to complete her Bachelor’s degree at Southwest Texas, where it was finally awarded in 1967, one year after her daughter had finished her own degree there.  Elaine taught school full time in Del Rio,  where her two children graduated from high school, both the lower grades at Garfield Elementary and teaching mathematics at the old Junior High School .  She also taught in Hondo, Bandera, Nueces Canyon, and prior to obtaining her degree, had taught as a substitute in several San Antonio school districts.  She completed her 30 year career while teaching high school mathematics in Nueces Canyon.  Subsequently, she and Ollie, who had also retired, bought property and moved to Medina, Texas, where they lived for a number of years.  Deciding to ‘downsize’ as they aged, they eventually moved to Fredericksburg, TX, where they lived until Ollie’s unexpected death in 1998.  While there, they were faithful and active members of First Baptist Church, where Elaine served as a Sunday School teacher and in a number of other important roles.  Having suffered a stroke in 2009, Elaine elected to move to Paige House in 2011, an assisted living facility in Fredericksburg, where she stayed for several years.  When her health began to further deteriorate, she moved to Mason in March of 2014, to live with her daughter.  In January of 2016, Elaine moved to Menard Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Menard, Texas, where she eventually passed away.

Elaine is survived by her two children, Dr. Robin E. Clark of Mason, TX and Ollie E. (Joe) Clark, Jr. of Del Rio, TX; three grandchildren, Wade (Tiffany) Winright of Great Britain; F. Lee Winright of Bandera, TX; Kristina (Jason) Schilling of Spring, TX; five great grandchildren, Lorien and Tristan Winright, Peyton Kilgore, Kai Powell, and Jaylen Schilling.  In addition, she is survived by one brother, William N. Robinson, of Wimberley, TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Elaine was loved by all who knew her as well as respected and admired by her students.  She dedicated herself to helping others and possessed a vivacious, infectious personality.  She was highly inquisitive and never tired of learning something new.  Her teaching skills were considerable.

Elaine’s wishes were to be cremated upon her death and her ashes distributed in west Texas, where Ollie’s were scattered almost twenty years ago.  A simple memorial service will be held sometime later in the Fall, in Medina, beside the river.  Former pastors, Gale Long and D.G. McCoury will speak briefly, and Claudia Long will sing. Grandsons Wade and Lee Winright will play a medley of Elaine’s favorite hymns on their guitars.

Memorials may be made to either The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN, 37214-0800 (or online: www.gideons.org) or Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 945, Mason, TX, 76856 (or online: masoncountyhfh.org).  Condolences may be sent to the family by U.S. Mail to:  Dr. Robin E. Clark, 716 Wheeler St., Mason, TX, or online at: [email protected].