of Little Rock, AR

July 30, 1943 - April 22, 2023

Dona Robinette, recently of Batesville, AR was born in Little Rock on July 30, 1943. She transitioned to Heaven on April 22, 2023 in Searcy, AR. Dona is predeceased by her parents, Helen Pinkerton and Donovan Newell; a son, Tommy Forte; grandparents, Florence and Frank Beadle; uncles, Charles, Walter and Calvin Beadle and step-father, Thomas Robinette.

Dona is survived by her daughter, Jill Wiles (Shawn) of Melbourne, AR; son, Joe Forte (Leslie) of Fifty-Six, AR; son, John Forte of North Little Rock, AR; brother, Robert Newell of Boise, Idaho; sister, Susan Risker of Paragould, AR; sister, Barbara Graves (Dan) of Missouri; sister, Kathy Newell of Missouri; grandchild, Alexa Passmore (Cody) of Mountain View, AR; grandchild, Dennis Russell Thompson (Taylor) of Melbourne, AR; grandchild, Mary Higgs (Evan) of Heber Springs, AR; grandchild, Hannah Forte of Fifty-Six, AR; grandchild, Erin Forte of Fifty-Six, AR; great grandchildren, Evie, Quinn and Gemma Passmore all of Mountain View, AR and Riley Thompson of Melbourne, AR; cousins, Allan, David, Christy Beadle and June Brown (Charles) all of Little Rock.

Dona is also survived by long-term friends, Larry and Joann Duncan, Danny and Vicki Delamar and Carolyn Vance all of Sardis, AR. Friend, Jan Thompson (Curtis) of Cameron, Missouri and friends, Sonny and Shirley Garrison of Cabot, AR. The above are just a fraction of the people who touched Dona's life and had Dona touch their lives.

Dona graduated from Fuller High School (1962) and attended Draughon's Business College. Dona was a proud, long-term employee of the Arkansas State Police in Little Rock. She also conducted a Christian radio ministry, The Dona Robinette Show, on KMTL, with her cohost being the late Dewayne Graham. Dona was a life-long, devoted member of the Christian faith. She was a member of the Eastern Star and spent several formative years in California. She loved her family and friends, plants (master gardener), flowers, birds, soup and the Home Town Renovation Show (Ben and Erin.) It took very little to make mother happy.

She was a true survivor. We would like to thank Surgeon, Luke Edgecombe and the entire ICU staff at White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR. We would like to thank Advanced Care Sub-Acute Hospital (LTAC) in Searcy, AR. And finally, we would like to thank Dr. Kevin Roberts of the Little Rock Family Practice Clinic for his decades of dedicated service to Mom.

Mother will have a private burial sometime next week at Woods Cemetery in Little Rock. She will have a public visitation at Roller-Drummond Funeral Home in Little Rock (I-30) on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. In memory of Mom, those who are able, please consider planting a Butterfly Bush.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Drummond Funeral Home
10900 Interstate 30
Little Rock, AR  72209
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com