Ruth E. Roberts

Ruth E. Roberts, 102, Roscoe, was born Sept. 11, 1915, to Lewis A. and Ivy (Hollcomb) Roeder in Cobb. She passed away Nov. 29, in El Dorado Springs.

She was raised on a farm with horses and wagons and no electricity. Ruth loved to help her dad in the garden raising most of the family’s food and also helped him operate a sorghum mill. She attended one-room schoolhouses to which she and her siblings walked each day. Every summer the family traveled by horse and wagon to El Dorado Springs for the annual Picnic which was a lengthy journey, given the distance and condition of the roads.

Ruth was united in marriage to Claude Roberts on Nov. 29, 1933, in Nevada and later that day attended the Virginia School Pie Supper. That night they were chivareed by neighbors to whom they passed out candy and cigars. Ruth and Claude were married for 50 years before he passed away on April 24, 1984.

She was always happy and always smiling and appreciated even the smallest gestures from family and friends. She was extremely optimistic, always seeing the bright side of every situation and the good in every person.

She loved all types of board and card games, but especially enjoyed playing pitch with friends and family.

Ruth was involved in several clubs and organizations and enjoyed leading the Girl Scouts along with Ms. Ethel Ward. On one of their trips they took the girls camping at Spooky Springs in Cedar County. The girls insisted on sleeping out under the stars instead of in the tents that had been brought, but changed their minds and tried to join Ruth and Ms. Ethel in their tent when they were suddenly soaked from a surprise rain shower.

She was a lifelong member of the Roscoe Christian Church and served as the church janitor for 30 years. She would walk to the old church building early every Sunday morning to build a fire and warm the building.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Louis Albert Roeder and Ivy Irene (Holcomb) Roeder; five brothers; three sisters; husband, Claude Wesley Roberts; and children – Carl, Jannie, Lou, Roy and Dale.

She is survived by her sons, Bill Roberts of Springfield, Lee Roberts of Burlington, IA and Ted Roberts and wife, Pam, of Republic; daughters, Irene Bell and husband, Robert, of Stockton and Neva Mallicoat and husband, Albert, of Roscoe; daughter-in-law, Betty Roberts, of Mt. Sterling, IA; 21 grandkids, 25 great-grandkids and three great-great grandkids.

Services were held Monday, Dec. 4, in Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola, with Pastor Ed Holt officiating. Music was “The Little One Room Schoolhouse.” Casketbearers were Larry Roberts, Phillip Roberts, Steve Jeffries, Rob Bell, Jamie Williams, Robert Bell and Albert Mallicoat.

Interment was in Pleasant Springs (Oyer) Cemetery under direction of Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola.