Nancy Robenalt

1925 - 2023

Nancy Robenalt
June 21, 1925 - May 25, 2023
Lexington, Kentucky - Nancy Leech Kidder Robenalt, 97, of Lexington KY died peacefully on May 25, 2023. Born in Rochester, MN on June 21, 1925, she was the daughter of Dr. Charles H. and Lila Ruth Robertson Leech. She was predeceased by her parents, her older brother, Dr. Thomas R. Leech, and wife Gloria, her first husband Lawrence B. Kidder, her second husband, John A. Robenalt, and her stepson, William A. Robenalt, and wife Kathy.
Nancy was an avid golfer from an early age. At the age of 16, she was the runner up in the Lima, Ohio City Women's Match Play Championship, beaten on the 18th hole by her mother who won her 7th title. The next year Nancy won.
She graduated from Lima Central High School and attended Connecticut College for Women in New Haven, Connecticut. After her marriage to Lawrence Kidder in 1946, they returned to Lima, Ohio where they raised their four children. She continued playing golf, being the Shawnee Country Club Champion three times and the Lima City Women's Match Play Champion five more times. She was awarded the Carling Sport award in 1958-59 for being the Woman Athlete of the year, and inducted into the Lima Golf Hall of Fame in October,2003.
In 1962, she and her husband, Larry, moved the family to her mother's family farm in Bethel, KY. She was a participating partner in the family's tobacco and cattle farm, which was later relocated near Lexington, KY and became a successful thoroughbred nursery. Nancy enjoyed going to the races and sales and being a long time member of the Keeneland Club. She continued playing golf in the Central Kentucky Women's Golf League for many years, and went on to shoot at or below her age into her 90's, often saying, "It gets easier every year!"
She is survived by her four children, Lynn Kidder Burns (Clayton), Dr. Charles Lawrence Kidder (Nancy), Susan Kidder Marshall (Townsell Jr.) and Shella Kidder Rozman (George), her six stepchildren, John F. Robenalt (Vancene), James Robenalt (Joanna), Robert Robenalt (Theresa), Mary R. Porter (Sam Layoun), Margaret R. Maloney (Matt), and Thomas D. Robenalt (Grace),her seven grandchildren, Andrew Kidder, Townsell "Tigger" Marshall III (Kelly), Ben Kidder (Jill), Elizabeth Marshall Downey (Brian), Matthew Davenport (Chelci), Clayton Burns Jr. (Kate), and Nancy Burns Hall (John), her niece, Lila Leech Murray (Paddy) and great-nephews Aidan and Declan. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
A family graveside service will be held at the Lexington Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Her Life at the Griffin Gate Club House in Lexington KY at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Grayson -Jockey Club Research Foundation at https://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Main Street is in charge of arrangements.
The family wants to offer a special thanks to Beverly Jenkins, Kathy Blair and Bluegrass Hospice Care for the wonderful care they provided the last weeks of her life.
For the online obituary, please visit https://www.kerrbrothersfuneralhome.com/obituaries.php.