Nancy Robinette

Nancy Lee Chaney Robinette, 86, passed on October 22, 2023, after a two-year decline in health.

Born in Danville, VA, on Sept. 10, 1937 to the late Dallas Abraham Chaney and Elsie Louise Crowder Chaney, Nancy always considered herself the 11th child of her grandparents: the late Mary Edna Timberlake Crowder and David Charles Crowder, as she lived with them and her aunts and uncles as a child. Each of these special people she loved dearly: Maggie Calvert, Hallie Crowder, Daphine Fowlkes, Hazel Hall, Georgia Elliott, Worth Crowder, Clemons Crowder, Riley Crowder and David Crowder, all of whom predeceased her. Nancy was also predeceased by her younger sister, Mary Catherine Chaney Edmunds. Her sweet girl Gracie, a black and white cocker spaniel who loved her dearly, passed in May 2023.

At First Baptist Church on Dec 26, 1954, she married the love of her life, George Lee Robinette, who survives. From Nancy's senior year at George Washington High School to 2023, they spent 68 years of life side-by-side.

On August 18, 1957, Nancy became a mother when her first daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Robinette Woodward (Kent) was born. Sarah Robinette Michaels and then Ruth Lee Robinette followed.

Nancy held several positions at Dan River Mills Hilton Hall and Neal’s Warehouse before serving as Assistant Vice President at Mutual Savings and Loan Association (now American National Bank and Trust Co). She served as President of the Danville Business and Professional Women’s Club, as well as honored as their “Woman of the Year” in 1984. Nancy had a passion for history and genealogy; she served as Chapter Registrar of the Dorthea Henry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and became an early computer user researching her family lineage online. She was a member and Treasurer of The Wednesday Club. She was a member of First Baptist Church, and her fondest Sundays were spent sitting on a long pew, surrounded by her Big Mama and family.

By far she thought her best job ever was that of grandmother (Nana) which she became in 1986! Her pride and joys were Lindsey Lee Daniels, Meredith Spivey Lipnick (Scott), Natalie Nancy Jean Michaels, Rachel Spivey Valentine (Scott), Laura Randall Spivey and Christopher Joseph George Michaels.

Surviving in addition to her husband, daughters and grandchildren are her great grandchildren Georgia Lipnick, Wesley Lipnick, Wilhelmina (Billie) Valentine and her beloved nieces and nephews: Susan Robinette Owen (Gary), Steve Robinette, Sherri Robinette Howard (Gerry), Michael Dale Wheeler (Laurie), Mary Louise Shelton (Rickie), Bill Bernard and Dustin Bernard (Danielle). A special note of thanks to her great niece and CNA Mary Brooke Shelton, and CNA Chevy Wilkinson, and the South Terrace staff at Roman Eagle Healthcare Center for the many hours of patient and loving care they provided.

A celebration of life service will be held on October 26, 2023, at Townes Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at http://act.alz.org/goto/NancyRobinette

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memory Wall at www.townesfuneralhome.com. The Robinette family has entrusted arrangements to Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main St., Danville, VA, 434-793-1211.