Eleanor Louise Robinson's Obituary
Louise Robinson, the love of my life, died August 27 with me and our children, Charlie Robinson, Jr. and Nicole Robinson holding her. She was born Eleanor Louise Stucky March 16, 1944 in Woodburn, Indiana to L.H “Joe” and Eleanor Brown Stucky. Her mom was a home economics teacher and excellent cook, and her dad was a John Deere dealer and Indiana farmer. They later owned the Hoosier Bell Ranch on State Road 484 outside of Dunnellon, Florida.
When she was three years old, Louise had a severe case of whooping cough and her doctor recommended that her parents take her to a warmer climate. When they went to Clearwater Beach, they discovered that the Manager of the Seashell Motel was a close friend of her mother’s. They returned to Woodburn in the Spring with her health much improved. The following winter, Louise contracted pneumonia and the family returned to Clearwater Beach and stayed from Christmas to Easter for several years. She attended South Ward Elementary School and had to keep up with her Indiana school lessons as well.
Her mom contracted thyroid cancer when Louise was in the fifth grade and Louise stayed with friends until her mom was able to travel to Florida. Her dad started selling off his farms and John Deere dealerships in order to move to Florida. He bought the ranch outside of Dunnellon and their house on Keene Road in Clearwater. He stayed at the ranch for weekdays and came home to Clearwater on weekends. Her mom was still very weak, so Louise became her after school caregiver until her mom recovered.
She went on to Clearwater Junior High School, and made many good friends, friends that would remain so for the rest of her life. She went on to Clearwater High School, and that is where we met. We had our first date when she was almost 16 years old, and a sophomore and I was a senior and just turned 18. She had a restricted driver’s license, and I was considered an adult so she could drive with me as a passenger. I often joked that my most significant failure was when I taught her to drive. I fell in love with her on our first date and loved her a little bit more every day until she died.
She graduated from Clearwater High in 1962 when I was entering my Junior year at the University of Florida. We decided to get married at that time. I am grateful that our grandchildren didn’t get crazy notions like we did. Louise was set to go to Stetson College in Deland when we decided to be together for life. Her parents were not pleased with our plan, so we settled on a compromise. If Louise could attend The University of Florida and get into a dorm room, we agreed to hold off on marriage plans until she graduated from college. We were married on August 14. 1965, the day of her graduation from the University of Florida. I graduated from U of F law school in December 1966 and Louise taught school in Alachua County, starting two days after our wedding.
We bought our first house in Belleair Bluffs and welcomed our son, Charlie Jr. in November 1967. We moved to our home in The Meadows in 1969 and welcomed our daughter Nicole in April 1970. Louise loved the water, and we bought our current home on the water in Belleair in 1975. The children both attended South Ward Elementary School and the University of Florida. We have five wonderful grandchildren, Charles F “Tripp” Robinson, Emma Robinson, and Arden Robinson born to our son and his wife Neall. Nicole and her husband Toby Davis have two children, Kayla Davis and Cassidy Davis.
Louise went back to teaching when Nicole was in high school and later managed my law office for over 25 years. She took all the calls looking for appointments and spent an average of 30 minutes on each call providing information on community resources to make their lives better, whether or not they became clients. I am so proud of the comfort and assurance that she gave to so many people.
2022 was a tough year for Louise. Her system filled with fluid, and she ended up spending 60 days in Morton Plant hospital and another 60 days in rehab. Her kidneys failed and she went to dialysis three days a week. In July, her system started breaking down, her pain increased. She consulted with her kidney and heart doctors and learned that she had no chance of improving, and that she should choose between quantity of life and quality of life.
She had a daredevil streak. She went skydiving at 60, Sebring race car driving, snowmobiling, rafting, and bungee jumping. We traveled and always had wonderful times.
She called a meeting of Charlie Jr., Nicole, and me on Thursday, August 24, to let us know that she wanted Hospice care and wanted to be at home. She came home the next day and told the grandchildren of her decision and proceeded to recall special events in their lives with clarity and humor. Her condition worsened on Sunday, August 27. Charlie Jr. Nicole, and I sat and held her until 2:10 pm when she passed. I will always miss her and love her a little bit more each day.
A celebration of her life will be held at a date to be determined.
What’s your fondest memory of Eleanor?
What’s a lesson you learned from Eleanor?
Share a story where Eleanor's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Eleanor you’ll never forget.
How did Eleanor make you smile?