William Harlan Robertson

1933-2018

William Harlan Robertson, known to many as Billy or Bill, 84, of Clarksville, Indiana, passed away Sunday evening at his home following a long illness. He was born April 5, 1933, in Gravel Switch, Kentucky, to the late Bert Elmore and Maudie Lee Jones Robertson. As his parents were good Christians, he was baptized at the Sycamore Church of Christ as a child.

Bill was the second of four children, but the family grew to seven, as they helped raise two nieces and one nephew. Having been raised during the great depression times were tough, but living on a farm the family grew much of what they had to eat. Family was always a great part of Bill’s life. He was married in 1955 and had one son. Several years later he met Laura Langsdon Rowe and they married on October 5, 1985, which added four daughters to his family.

His early career was managing Standard Oil stations in Campbellsville, KY and later in Louisville. He also worked a farm, raising cattle and tobacco, which led him to his long career as a truck driver for Armour Cheese Company of Springfield, Kentucky. After his driving career, he was not ready to retire so he went to work for Dignity Funeral Homes, assisting the Arch L. Heady and Kraft Funeral Service locations. He loved assisting his son Greg at the Arch L. Heady location. He also loved gardening, raising prize tomatoes he shared with family and friends. He also kept an immaculate yard with not a leaf on his manicured lawn.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Earl E. Robertson; brothers-in-laws, Pete Arnold, Junior Wheeler, Junior Oller. 

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 32 years, Laura Robertson; and their five children, Greg Robertson (Brian Williams), Virginia Quick (Terry), Debbie Lowell, Janice Dunn, and Cathy Vanwinkle (Steve). They were blessed to have several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Bill is also survived by his sisters, Marie Arnold of Perryville, KY, Jenell Oller of Louisville, Joyce Ann Berentz of Lebanon, KY, and Maryvene Wheeler. Several extended family members that he loved dearly, Loretta and Darrell Schweitzer, Bill Burkhead, George and Sandy Coyle, Cub Staton, Jimmy Berry, Bobby and Sharon Suell, his great aunt, Pauline Oliver, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 10, at Kraft Funeral Service, 708 E. Spring Street, New Albany, IN. 

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, in the Kraft Spring Street Chapel with entombment to follow in Kraft-Graceland Memorial Park.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Bill are requested to The Grace Foundation of Southern Care Hospice Services.

Online condolences may be made to www.kraftfuneralservice.net.