Campus Mourns Loss of Founding Faculty Member
The Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus community is saddened by the loss of Dr. Carlton Robardey, Sr., 77, of Texarkana, Texas, who died Monday at his home in Texarkana, Texas.
Dr. Robardey was one of the university’s 11 founding faculty members, joining then-East Texas State University at Texarkana in the fall of 1972. He retired from Texas A&M University-Texarkana after 27 years of teaching science education classes and serving as coordinator of student teachers.
Upon retirement, Dr. Robardey received the Professor Emeritus Award. He also received the first Distinguished Faculty Award from the A&M-Texarkana Alumni Association in 1999.
“Carlton was popular among both colleagues and students,” said Dr. Larry Davis, Professor of Economics, who joined A&M-Texarkana with Dr. Robardey in 1972. “Although he suffered a stroke at a young age and lived with Parkinson’s Disease for many years, he still enjoyed coming to campus and being a part of the A&M-Texarkana family.”
He was a private airplane pilot and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Dr. Robardey was born Sept. 22, 1938, in Cedar City, Missouri to Port and Arietta Robardey. He graduated from Ladonia High School, Ladonia, Texas, in 1957. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from East Texas State University at Commerce, Texas, in 1963; a master’s degree from East Texas State University at Commerce in 1967, a second master’s degree from Michigan State University in 1971; and a doctorate from Michigan State University in 1971.
Dr. Robardey is survived by his wife of 26 years, Debbie; one son and daughter-in-law, Port and Denise Robardey of Texarkana, Texas; two daughters, Michaelle Robardey of Shreveport, Louisiana, Millette Robardey Upchurch and Jeffrey Upchurch of Forney, Texas; two step-daughters and sons-in-law, Shelly and Jimmy Gentry of DeQueen, Arkansas and Courtney and Jonathan Bard, of Genoa, Arkansas; nine grandchildren, Mia Hall, Blake Upchurch, Nathan Robardey, Jonathan Robardey, Angela Robardey, Morgan Bard, Addison Bard, Jackson Bard and Halley Gentry; and four great-grandchildren, Easton Robardey, Avery Bush, Evalyn Robardey and Devanny Robardey; one sister, Beverly Felts of Honey Grove, Texas, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Saxby, Rev. Kevin Holt, Richard Sexton and Dr. David Allard officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park under the direction of Texarkana Funeral Home, Texas.
The family will receive friends at a visitation Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials can be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, P.O. Box 670278, Dallas, Texas 75367-0278.
