FRANCES "FRAN" GILDART ROBINSON, 86, passed away Thursday, January 30, 2013, at her home in Bartlett. She was born March 14, 1927 in Corsicana, Texas, and later moved to the oil fields of Kilgore, Texas. She graduated from Kilgore High School. She received a bachelor''s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her future husband, returning World War II veteran Emmett "Robby" Robinson, after she switched Spanish classes so she would not have to wait as long to eat lunch. She is survived by her children, who remain forever grateful for those hunger pangs, Elton Robinson (Stephony), of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, David Robinson, of Bartlett and Debra Robinson, of Memphis. "Granny Franny" is also survived by two grandchildren, Ryan Robinson, of Memphis and Andrea Reyes (Ben) of Alvin, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Robby; parents, Gordon and Hilda Gildart, and sisters Emagene Wind and Joann Hill. Frances was born to be a teacher, as she saw the best in every child despite what others may have observed as flaws. She taught at Bartlett Elementary, Scenic Hills Elementary and Sky View Baptist Academy, later on taking on the challenge of educating special needs children. Teaching was a 24-hour pursuit for Frances. If a child walked into her home and showed an interest in reading, she offered a seat next to her and ample encouragement. She had a wide range of knowledge and interests, from the parallel universes and black matter of theoretical physics to her unquestioned authority on European history. She loved gardening, reading and playing the classics on her piano. After retiring from teaching school for over 20 years, she and Robby traveled to Germany, France, Thailand and India, where she met Indira Gandhi, the prime minister of India. The greatest joy of her life, however, was the gathering of her family around her, during holidays and birthdays, enjoying one of her practical 45-minute home-cooked meals. She loved to tell stories about her family and her life, especially ones that involved her mistakes, and to laugh and be teased by her children. A visitation honoring Frances will be held at Forest Hill East from noon until 2 p.m., on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.