JESSIE AILENE (ROBINSON) PARTINGTON, 91, of Ormond Beach died Thursday, June 11, 2015, at home. She was born July 28, 1923 in Evansville, Indiana, to James M. Robinson and Janie Belle Feagley Robinson. She attended Harper Elementary and graduated from Bosse High School in 1941. Her early jobs were at the Polar Bear drive-in restaurant and The Baby Shop in Evansville.
On August 5, 1943, she married William E. "Bill" Partington. She lived in Evansville, IN, Tampa, FL; Daytona Beach, FL; Holly Hill, FL, and Ormond Beach, FL. She was Vice President and Secretary of Ormond Hardware Co. and later AHC Safe & Lock until retiring in 2009 at the age of 85. Her husband Bill Partington preceded Jessie in death in 1978. She was also preceded by these siblings: Evelyn Kurtzeborn, Eleanor Yeadon, and James E. Robinson. She is survived by a sister, Susan Reynolds (Irvin), Evansville, Indiana; her children, Janie L. Calhoun of Bunnell, FL and Carol Ann Partington of Tampa, FL, William E. Partington, II (Donna), of Ormond Beach and her friend since high school and loving companion for the past 20 years, Karl Matthews. Additional family include grandchildren: Rosemary Calhoun of Ormond Beach, Gary Calhoun (Cathie) of Knoxville, TN, Doa Calhoun of Raleigh, N.C., William E. Partington, III, (Lori) of Ormond Beach, Dawn Billings (Dyson) of Ormond Beach and Marie Smith Tinnes (Dean) of Minneapolis, MN., great-grandchildren: Heather Calhoun, Elizabeth Allman, Catherine Joan, Anne and Faith Partington, and Casey, Pearce, Ellina, Emma, and Jude Billings and Marina Tinnes. Surviving great-great grandchildren are William Jacobs, James Jacobs, Phystian Calhoun, and Logan Allman. Surviving nieces and nephews are Laura "Parky" Rodriguez, Edwin M. Kurtzeborn, Harold Yeadon, Christine Bilentschuk, Eric Yeadon, Martha Bostick, Virginia Johnson, Elizabeth Mumford and Stephen Reynolds.
Jessie was very creative and enjoyed drawing and painting, crocheting, and sewing. She loved watching and feeding wild birds in her yard, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, bingo and the Florida lottery. She was very lucky and won a car once in a drawing. Prior to his death in 1978, she enjoyed traveling with her husband Bill, especially to Ace Hardware Conventions. She will be remembered fondly for her love of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In her last few years, she was limited by macular degeneration and appreciated the services of the Center for the Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach, FL. In her final days, Jessie and her family deeply appreciated the services of Halifax Hospice.
A Memorial Remembrance Service for family and friends will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, 32174, on Friday, June 19 at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to one of the following charities is encouraged: Family Renew Communities (homelessness), P.O. Box 250123, Holly Hill, FL 32125, or the Historic Ormond Yacht Club (historic preservation), P.O. Box 1104, Ormond Beach, FL, 32175.