Mary Robinette

ROBINETTE - Mary Bethel Robinette, age 84, passed away Friday, June 19, 2020 at Vista Springs Northview nursing home. She was preceded in death by her husband James, parents Bill and Arnetta Payne and brother and sister-in-law Bill and Lera Payne, and brother-in-law, Richard Bennett. Mary Bethel is survived by her children, Ed (Alicia) Robinette, William (Sharon Vriend) Robinette, John (Karey) Robinette; grandchildren, James (Mckenna), Allan (Marah), Ashley, Anna, Sarah and Henry Robinette; brother-in-law, Burke (Helen) Robinette; sister-in-law, Janet Bennett; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary Bethel was born in Glasgow, KY in 1935. She was named for her aunt Mary Bethel (Payne) Honeycutt, and she was known by the nickname "Little Sister", or "Sister" by her family. She had a talent for singing from an early age, singing at church and in school choirs. She was a cheerleader at Glasgow High School. Her Aunt Mary Bethel and Uncle Wendell Honeycutt made it possible for her to attend Transylvania College in Lexington, KY, where she majored in elementary education. She was also a member of the Transylvania Choir, and enjoyed many great friendships there. Upon graduation in 1958, she was recruited to come to Grand Rapids, Michigan to teach school. She came north with 3 other co-recruits to begin her teaching career. When she moved to Grand Rapids, Mary Bethel became a member at Central Christian Church, the same denomination she grew up in. There, she joined the choir, began volunteering with the Sunday School, and was introduced to a man with a red Thunderbird, Jim Robinette. At about this time, she also shortened her name to Bethel, which she has been known by ever since. Bethel and Jim were married on June 9, 1962, and her second-grade students were invited to the wedding reception. Bethel retired from teaching in 1963 with the birth of the first of their three sons. In 1972, she began her second career, working together with Jim to establish Robinette's Apple Haus, the family's farm market. She started the donut kitchen which has grown into a West Michigan destination. Over the years, she also led and gave school tours of the farm to thousands of children. Long after their official retirements, Bethel and Jim worked together at the farm. They offered every guest a cheerful welcome and did anything they could to support the business they created. Bethel was a warm and loving person. She treasured her family and especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren. She was a faithful woman who was an elder and served on the church board for years. She continued her singing in the church choir and shared her musical gift in countless weddings. Bethel was extremely hospitable and regularly shared her tasty food, beautiful table and good-hearted laugh with family and friends. She had an amazing whistle that could be heard across the property. Bethel and Jim loved to travel and were blessed to be able to see much of the world together. They never failed to make new friends when they did. Family and friends will celebrate both Bethel and Jim's lives together at a memorial open house and a private burial for Bethel will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan State Horticultural Society, which provides monies for research and scholarships http://mihortsociety.com/trust-fund/trust-donor/ or the Alzheimer's Association Research Fund, alz.org. To share a photo, memory, and sign the family's online guestbook, please visit www.stegengafuneralchapel.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary Bethel Robinette please visit our Sympathy Store.