Roberta M. Wilson

Roberta Marie Wilson, 86, a longtime resident of Wamego, Kansas, passed away following a short illness, Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She was born June 14, 1923 at her rural family home near Smith Center, Kansas, the daughter of Roy E. and Mabel N. (Bennett) Kaup. She attended a one room rural school in Smith County and graduated in 1941 from Smith Center High School. She then boarded a train to San Francisco, CA to marry her husband, Theodore A. Wilson who was stationed near there for military duty. They were married in Monterey, CA, on Sept. 5, 1942. He preceded her in death on November 21, 1998. She later returned to Smith Center to start their family. Roberta, Theodore, and their children lived in several Kansas communities. She worked as a nurses aid for many years, beginning in Colby, KS for several years, Clay Center, and then at Dechairo Hospital in Westmoreland, KS for several years before retirement. While living in Colby, she also worked at the local Duckwalls store and the Thomas County ASCS office. She was a lifetime member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary of Colby and the Colby chapter of Eastern Star. Roberta was an avid homemaker who loved cooking, baking pies, and taking care of her family. She enjoyed playing the piano, attending her church, and playing Canasta right up until her poor eyesight kept her from seeing the cards. Her first love was her kids and grandkids. She would always help them in any way she could. She was especially proud to live to see her first great-great-grandchild. Survivors include her two daughters, Sharon K. Wilson of Wamego, KS, Susan Daniel and her husband Ron, of Topeka, KS; two sons, Ted R. Wilson and his wife Sylvia, of Wheaton, KS, Thomas K. Wilson of Wamego, KS; 9 grandchildren, Kristi Howard, William Shane Wilson, Christopher Wilson, Eleanor Metcalf, Aaron Crismas, Junior Crismas, Alan Crismas, Anna Wells, Autumn Plummer, Amanda Abel, Joshua Brazzle; 22 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond and Bob Kaup; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 24, 2009 at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, with burial following in Fairview Cemetery near Smith Center. The family will greet friends at a visitation from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. She will lie in-state at the funeral home beginning Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Parkinson’s Disease Assoc. and may be left in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, 66547.