Roberta Bernice Summers, 91, Bloomington, passed away at 12:55 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 22, 2012) at Martin Health Center, Bloomington.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Eastview Christian Church, Normal. The Rev. Robert Phillips will officiate. Entombment will be at East Lawn Mausoleum, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Theron and Roberta Summers Scholarship Fund, Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln.
Roberta was born Jan. 23, 1920, in Ellery, the daughter of George Hicksen and Stella Rachel Bunting Neal. She married Theron Summers on Aug. 27, 1944, at the Little Prairie Christian Church, Albion. He survives.
Also surviving are five children, Marilyn (Dwain) Illman, Bloomington, Ind.; Janet (Gary) York, Normal; Doris (Paul) Hospelhorn, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Karen (John) Martin, Sun City Center, Fla.; and Richard “Rick” (Debbie) Summers, Naperville; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Rich) Beasley; Christine Illman; Jennifer (B.J.) Armstrong; Julia (Zachary) Maness; Kimberly (Jason) Smith; Shannon (Jeff) Hunt; Brent Hospelhorn; Darrin (Jessica) York; J. Andrew (Chris) Illman; Douglas Hospelhorn; and Ryan, Lindsey and Ross Summers; 14 great-grandchildren, Brooke and Brett Beasley; Cooper, Regan and Gibson Smith; Cassidy and Caden Hunt; Freddy and Annika Armstrong; Emily and Evelyn York; Savanna and Gavin Maness; and Adelaide Illman; and six nephews, Steve, Don, David, Doyle and Stuart Green, and David Summers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Ethel Green; one infant brother, Elmer Neal; and an infant grandson, Clark Illman.
Roberta was a member of Eastview Christian Church, Normal, and the Spirit Lifters of the church. She retired from the J.C. Penney office in Bloomington. Roberta was a loyal St. Louis Cardinals and Illinois State University Redbirds fan. She was a wonderful, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was deeply loved and missed by all.
Dear Theron and family,
We want to express our deepest sympathy to you. Roberta was such a sweet wonderful person and feel it was a privilege to have known her. We pray God will give you comfort and strength at this time. You will have many precious memories. We are very sorry that we can not be with you in Illinois to help be a support system for you, Rick, and the rest of the family!! Love, Bob and Gail
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Dear family…..
I have so many fond memories of Roberta and Theron when I was a youth at Eastview. Roberta was so respected, loved and admired. I always thought that Theron’s smiles were directed by thoughts of loving Roberta. I am rejoicing for Roberta, and holding Theron and the rest of you in my prayers for comfort…and the positive hope we all hold of seeing her again.
Connie (Ranney) Dick
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Dear Theron and family,
We were sadden to read of Roberta’s passing, but confident in knowing she is enjoying her heavenly reward. She was such a Godly woman who possessed so many of her mother’s wonderful qualities, and what a wonderful family you both have given to God’s kingdom. Theron we appreciated so much you and Roberta’s friendship and encouragement through the years. I still have some of your letters and notes. We have a lot of wonderful memories of Homecomings at Little Prairie. You may never know how much you both have meant to God’s Kingdom and to a lot of individuals on this earth, but others do. God bless you!
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Barb and I extend our love and prayers to Theron and all the family. From my earliest days at LCC/LCU until now the positive, supportive influence of at least three generations of the Summers family has always been there. God bless you as you grieve the loss of one who loved you all deeply and as you celebrate the victory in Christ that she has gained.
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Dear Mr. Summers and Family-
I am remembering all the wonderful times you and Mrs. Summers had with my folks. How many hands of Pinochle do you suppose you have played? You both have been good, good friends. We will miss Roberta so very much. Holding you all close in prayer.
Mary
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
We feel blessed that our parents were such good friends.
Doris & Janet
Theron anf family, I am sorry about Roberta, you and your family were so good to me, taking me to church and feeding me that wonderful fried chicken after church, I have wonderful memories of all of you as my neighbors , you are special family, I cherish those days. you are blessed to have such a great mom. God bless Love Susan
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Janet and I are here in Az., remembering those fun times as well! Thanks so much for remembering Dad.
To Theron and the entire family….we send our most sincere condolences. We value highly those years we spent together as a “Farm Bureau family”. We also recall those more recent years when we and the Hagamans would meet somewhere in the Midwest for 3 days of stories and pictures and those table games, especially GOLF. Roberta would win nearly every time! To the grandchildren, you were so fortunate to be a part of her family. We always held her in the highest esteem.
Theron, we will keep in touch, especially when in Central Illinois to visit our relatives.
Frank and Doris Chambers, Lincoln, NE
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
Thanks for your friendship with Mom and Dad.
Theron and family,
We have fond memories of Roberta. The times we stopped in at your home with Paul and Doris, ( sometimes after a tennis match) Roberta made us feel so welcome and made sure we had something to quinch our thirst. The best part was her warm and loving ways that just made us want to stay for hours just to visit. She always was interested our lives and shared her faith through example and encouraging words. You are all in our thought and prayers. May God Bless you with peace, strength, and comfort knowing we all will be together someday in His heavenly home.
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron
It was so good to see you at Paul’s Dad’s visitation. Thanks for your love and encouragement! Love you! Doris
Dear Theron & Family
What a wonderful christian life you had together. God has given you a beautiful family, and many wonderful memories. One memory stands out, the time Dwain & Maxine and us were at your house for dinner, Roberta made apple pie. We played pinochle in the afternoon. We always played pinochle at night. Good memories, what a blessing!
May God Bless You and Yours at this time!
Love, Quentin & Ruby
Thanks for your e-mail expressing your sympathy, love, and words of encouragement at the passing of Roberta. It meant so much!
Theron