Richard D. Robinett

Richard Dean Robinett, of rural North Webster, died at Goshen Hospital on Sunday, September 13 after a year-long struggle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Juanita (Tucker) Robinett. His only sibling, Robert, died in 2019.

Dick was born in Bryan, Ohio on May 8, 1942 to Wayland and Jane (Bible) Robinett and raised in Wabash, Indiana where he graduated High School in 1960. He then graduated from Purdue University in 1965 with a Liberal Arts degree.

While working for the Mishawaka Times and the Elkhart Truth in Indiana, he was recognized several times for his excellence in reporting. He received the first place award in news writing from the Indiana Associated Press in both 1968 and 1969. And his stories on Elkhart’s downtown renewal plans garnered a first place award from the Hoosier State Press Association in the category of Series of Stories. His writing skills were cited by one of the judges, who said, "This series stands above all others in this category because it was not dull. Too often thorough research about an important ‘hard news’ subject is written dully, and does not seem vital to the reader…"

His news beats in those years included police and fire departments, along with city government and politics. In 1971 he was awarded a Congressional Fellowship for an award-winning story he wrote earlier, thus spent most of l972 in Washington, D.C., observing and learning about the governmental process.

After moving to Fairbanks, Alaska, he was a news reporter for the Daily News-Miner. Dick moved to North Webster, Indiana in 1988, where he worked with Roger’s Auto until retirement. He and Juanita honed their musical skills by performing for festivals and events around the area.

He requested cremation, and there will be no services. In lieu of that, he asked those who wished to do so, to make a donation to the charity of their choice. Titus Funeral Home of North Webster is assisting the family.