George R. Robinett

George R. Robinett was born on June 3, 1942, in Warsaw, Missouri, to Louis and Faye Robinett. He grew up in Warsaw and around the Lake of the Ozarks. He attended a one-room schoolhouse, skipped sixth grade, and graduated from Warsaw High School.

At age 16, George traveled to California with some friends to look for work. As it turned out, that was fortunate for his children: the work dried up, and he returned to Lincoln, Missouri, where he met Lorna Gerken. Their story began at a gas station, where George caught her attention as she drove a wagon full of wheat into town. As the family remembers it, she nearly drove a tractor into a ditch while looking at him. Months later she actually met George on Halloween night.  They shared nearly 65 years together.

George was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. He was a member of the Big Red One, the 1st Infantry Division. His division took part in an amphibious landing in Vietnam. George always followed his own path, which served him well during his entire live with the exception of boot camp.  George would have been a corporal coming out of boot camp, but because he couldn’t march, he frequently lost his stripes and fell to the rear of the group. Once he no longer had to march in formation, he rose to the rank of sergeant. After his military service, he worked at Lake City Ammunition for 38 years, spending most of that time as a tool setter. During several layoffs in the 1970s and early 1980s, he also repaired televisions and other electronics.

An avid hunter and fisherman, George enjoyed the outdoors and treasured time with his family. Until his health limited his ability to travel, he could often be found on the lake or on local rivers in Benton County during summer weekends.  In the fall, he headed into the woods to hunt deer.  In later years, he could be found in the garden battling his raccoon nemeses or pulling the grandkids around the yard behind the mower in the red wagon.

George loved being a dad and grandpa, and he was incredibly patient. He untangled countless bird’s nests because his children wanted to use the cool rods Dad used.  During one fishing trip his teenage daughter was trying to cast her jig and managed to hook George in the rear. His son jumped homemade ramps and whatever else he could stack up, sending multiple bicycles to the landfill. There were many eye rolls and deep breaths, but no yelling or spankings, and somehow, the man who didn’t like fish was able to snuggle his children, who ate tuna fish sandwiches for breakfast. He watched endless princess, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine videos, and he presided over numerous tea parties and cooking attempts. 

George was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Faye Robinett; his brothers, Louie Wafford and Larry Joe; and his sisters-in-law, Mildred and Etheldred. He is survived by his wife, Lorna; his children, Gerri (Mark) and Roger; and his grandchildren, Jack, Allen, Grace, Chesney, Isabelle, and Virginia Faye.

He will be remembered with love by all who shared in his life.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. until the service begins at 11 a.m. at Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove, Missouri. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Warsaw, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Tunnel to Towers.

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements by Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove, Missouri