Ernestine Mildred Smith Cobble

Ernestine was born in Holly Grove, Arkansas on June 20, 1923. The family moved to Blytheville, Arkansas in 1932 where she graduated from Blytheville High School in 1941 with majors in home economics and commercial courses. As the oldest of eight children, she helped raise her five sisters and two brothers and started working at S.H. Kress and Company part-time at the age of 14. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper at Montgomery Ward while taking business courses at night. By age 19 she was promoted to credit manager. She was determined to make the best of her life by working hard for her family from a very young age.

At a very young age, Ernestine had learned to sew and make her younger sisters clothes on a Trella sewing machine at home and was making woolen garments for herself by the time she was 15. At 20 years of age, she met the love of her life, Raymond Cobble, on a blind date on October 31,1942. He was a 2nd Lt. in chemical warfare in the Army Air Force at Blytheville Air Force Base. It was love at first sight and after only 5 months and 5 days, they were married. They were both deeply involved in his University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service work for 43 years and very active in church and volunteer work and school for their three sons' education. They had a fantastic time and memorable experiences as a family traveling coast-to-coast visiting relatives and to Raymond’s annual conventions with the UT Agricultural Extension Service. She always enjoyed cooking and entertaining in her home and helping and being involved with friends. Ernestine and Raymond shared their eternal love for 68 years of marriage and built a very rewarding life together. Her family came first and foremost in her life as a mother and wife. She could do most anything with her time and hands – a wonderful homemaker and treasured mother always.

They had three wonderful sons, Clark and twins Steve and Phil. After more than 22 combined years of college for their sons, they were happy to be able to put them in their professions. They both retired October 31,1982, Raymond with the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service and Ernestine with Metro Nashville Schools after 16 years as an administrative assistant at Bass Junior High. Their world wide travels started in 1983 after they moved to Knoxville to make their retirement home closer to their sons and grandchildren – a real joy and blessing to them.

Ernestine was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raymond Ernest Cobble, her parents, Mabel Irene Tharpe and George W. Smith, and by her two sons, Dr. Clark Robert Cobble of Danville, VA, and Dr. Stephen R. Cobble of Knoxville. She is survived by her son Philip Ernest Cobble and wife Kelli J. Cobble of Farragut, two sisters, Barbara Rozman of Dallas, TX and Freda Nelson of Oconomowoc, WI, and daughter-in-law, Jan M. Cobble of Knoxville. Ernestine is also survived by seven grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: Laurel Fountain (Mike) of Bethesda, MD, Leah Dunne (Justin) of Colorado Springs, CO, Lane Cobble of Lynchburg, VA, Andrew Cobble (Coatney) of Missouri City, TX, Jay Cobble (Rebecca) of Knoxville, Ashley McBride (David) of Cumming, GA, Kimberly Goldsborough (Michael) of Farragut, Matthew Courteau of Kingston, TN, and Ryan Neal of Farragut. Ernestine was blessed with 16 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday, February 28, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home with hors d'oeuvres. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Highland Memorial Chapel followed by the graveside service at 3:00 p.m. at Highland Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Young Life Knoxville or the UT Institute of Agriculture Scholarship Fund at 114 Morgan Hall, 2621 Morgan Circle, Knoxville, TN 37996. Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home 865-588-0567.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Cobble family.