Winniferd "Wendy" Roberts

Wendy was born on January 12, 1938 to Clay and Mae (Columbia) White on Hamburg Place Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. A 1956 graduate of Oldham County High School in LaGrange, Kentucky, she married the love of her life, Earl W. Roberts, Jr. in LaGrange on September 8, 1956. A job opportunity for Earl took them to Valparaiso, Indiana in 1966. There they made a wonderful life together, raising four children and becoming involved in their community. In 1974, once all their children were in school, Wendy began working for the Valparaiso Community Schools. She retired from VCS after 32 years of service as an instructional assistant at Central Elementary and later as a secretary at the district's Service Center. Wendy was a devout Christian who lived out her faith in everything she said and did. A member of First Baptist Church, Valparaiso, she served her church in many capacities including Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Marjorie Wickstrom Circle leader, deaconess, and leader in children’s ministries. Wendy was known for her gifts of teaching and hospitality. She was a wonderful cook and a fabulous baker. Co-workers, friends and family all enjoyed the fruits of her labor in the kitchen. Wendy adored her grandchildren and loved making holidays and ordinary days special for them.

She is preceded in death by her parents Clay and Mae; husband Earl; daughter Kerry (Roberts) Miller; brothers Robert and Jack White; and half-siblings James Hatfield, Rosa McCray, Bea Foster, Jean Hatfield and Woodrow Hatfield.

She is survived by her sister, Betty Leet of LaGrange; sons Richard (Patty) Roberts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Andrew (Gail) Roberts of Valparaiso; daughter Susan (Michael) Bryant of Greenfield, Indiana; son-in-law Richard Miller of Indianapolis, Indiana; and grandchildren Kate Miller, Laura Miller, Dean Vallone, Ellen Bryant, Lauren Bryant, Clayton Roberts and Evan Roberts.

A graveside service will be held at the Valley of Rest Cemetery in LaGrange, Kentucky on Tuesday, September 6 at 10:30 am. A memorial service will take place at First Baptist Church in Valparaiso, Indiana on Wednesday, September 7 at 1:30 pm with visitation from noon to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Valparaiso Community Schools’ Education Foundation, or First Baptist Church of Valparaiso.