Alma Robison

(From Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home)

Alma Colleen Robison entered peacefully into her eternal rest on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at her recent home in Lenexa, Kansas. She was surrounded by her four children singing her favorite hymns. She was 87 and had been in failing health for a few months.

Alma Colleen Goodale was born March 20, 1935 in Blackwell, Oklahoma to David C and Violet M (Cooper) Goodale. She grew up on a farm in Blackwell and attended school there. 

The youngest of 8 children, she loved her brothers and sisters immensely and enjoyed the teasing and sibling fun that occurred being the baby of the family. They all lovingly called her “Pee Wee”.

Alma married Bobby G. “Bob” Robison in 1951. Bob and Alma were blessed with 4 children; Merlyna, Gloria, Mark and Robin. They were married nearly 60 years, including 13 years in which Bob dealt with the cruelty of Alzheimer’s and Alma was a loving caregiver, until his passing in 2009. 

Alma served alongside Bob in ministry and cherished every moment of loving and serving people with her gracious kindness. Their first church was the Wesleyan Church in Pea Ridge, Arkansas from 1954 to 1958. Future churches were in the Church of the Nazarene in Neosho, MO, Webb City, MO, Belton, MO, and Branson MO. They moved to Parsons, KS in 1986 and Bob became associate pastor at Parsons Church of the Nazarene.

 

On November 25, 2015, Alma and John Van Dyne were united in marriage in Tulsa, Oklahoma. John brought great joy to her life. She cherished him in these years and they loved going to gospel concerts, and being with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren until he passed in 2020.

Alma was an amazing homemaker but also worked in retail at W. J. Hux clothing store in Neosho, MO, and at Otasco while in Webb City, MO especially near Christmas. She served as a Chaplain for Labette County Medical Center for 15 years.

Alma was a loving wife, mother, step-mother, Nana, sister and daughter. She was a gracious hostess and enjoyed having people in her home; cooking, serving meals, enjoying fellowship together, playing games, having Bible studies. She thoroughly enjoyed playing games, especially with her grandchildren. She was involved at the Parsons Food Pantry and had Bible studies in her home in Parsons, KS until she left her home in March of 2022 because of her health. She was a faithful church member at Parsons Nazarene Church for 36 years. She loved worshiping her Lord and Savior with her church community. She loved mentoring women. Alma found Jesus on her mother’s knee at the age of 3 and her constant goal in life was to live and love like Jesus until he would take her home.

She moved to the Greenwood Terrace Senior Living community in May of 2022 to be close to family with her failing health. In a very short time, she was beloved by her new friends and relationships that surrounded her there. A few of her favorite things were going to devotions every morning at 10, singing hymns with her friends at devotions, singing hymns in the dining hall, playing bingo, and mingling with and loving on her new friends. One of her new friends there used these words about Alma, “She brought Jesus’ love to our community.”

She was adored by all who cared for her in these last months of her life. Her physicians and caregivers were always amazed at her gracious spirit and kindness to them as they tenderly served her these past few months. She was a loving, gracious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.

 

Survivors left to carry on Alma’s legacy are her children: Merlyna Jean (Matt) Spencer of Joplin, MO, Gloria Dawn (Dave) McKellips of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mark Lee (Linda) Robison of Olathe, Kansas, Robin Lynette Breedlove of Olathe, Kansas. Seven stepchildren: Sara (Bud) Cortner, Carey (Doug) Tennis, Sidney (Sheryl) Van Dyne, Rosa (David) Acheson, Rita (Steve) Laswell, Rodney (Toni) Van Dyne and Philip (Claudia) Van Dyne. Grandchildren: Keri (Damien) Mitchell, Lindsey (Scott) Dermer, Morgan Spencer, David (Elaine) McKellips, Amanda Robison, Kyle Breedlove, and Savanah Robison. Great-grandchildren: Millie, Eli and Bennett Dermer, Elliana and Everly Mitchell, and Shepherd McKellips. She is also survived by her brother, Joe (Pauline) Goodale of Claremore, Oklahoma and by 20 step-grandchildren, 47 step-great grandchildren and 3 step-great-great grandchildren.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby G. Robison of nearly 60 years; John Van Dyne, her husband of 5 years and her siblings: Cleo Goodale, Lottie James, Martina Randall, Betty Lafferty, Leroy Goodale, Don Goodale, and Leaulta Steers.

The celebration of Alma’s life will be at 10:30 am, August 22nd, 2022 at Parsons Nazarene Church, Parsons, Kansas. The graveside service will be at Oakes Cemetery in Bentonville, AR in the afternoon. The family will receive friends at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., the evening before the service. 

Memorial gifts may be made to Parsons Nazarene Church to help with the purchase of a keyboard. Memorial contributions may be left at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons, or mailed to PO Box 374, Parsons, Kansas 67357.