Roberta Ellen Clark

9/26/1942 – 12/08/2025

Roberta was born in Washington, Iowa. She was the youngest of four siblings and grew up on her parents’ farm. She enjoyed school and excelled in learning. In 1956, she moved with her family to Tucson, Arizona. She began attending Sunnyside High School in December of her freshman year. Roberta was very popular in high school, was crowned Miss Sunnyside during her senior year, and graduated at the top of her class in 1960. She was among the first four-year graduating class of Sunnyside. After graduation, she obtained a job at Mountain States Telephone and began attending the University of Arizona in the fall.

On September 3, 1964, Roberta married her high school sweetheart, Walter Clark, who was also attending the University of Arizona and working. Walter had enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and in 1965 he was placed on active duty. The couple relocated to Glenview Naval Air Station near Chicago, Illinois. Roberta transferred to Illinois Bell Telephone and quickly advanced to the level of supervisor. The office she supervised never had an error on any order sent. At the time, the couple’s “babies” were two Pekingese dogs: a light brown female named Nina and a white male named Max. Dogs would remain beloved family members for the rest of her life.

Roberta and Walter returned to Tucson in 1968 when Walter was discharged from the Navy after completing his term of service. Roberta resumed her studies at the University of Arizona and graduated with a B.A. in Secondary Education in 1970. She was the first in her family to graduate from a university. She primarily taught in private schools, working with first through fourth grades, and also volunteered with Head Start and provided private tutoring—each experience reinforcing her love of learning.

Walter began a career in air traffic control, which resulted in frequent relocations. Roberta became an expert at packing up their home whenever a transfer notice arrived. They were living in Las Vegas when their first son, Allen, was born in 1974. The following year, the family moved back to Arizona, settling in Chandler, a suburb of Phoenix. Their second son, David, was born in late 1975, completing their family.

The family lived for the next 12 years in a home that Walter and Roberta designed in a neighborhood built around a small private airport. They enjoyed flying together in the family’s Cessna 172 airplane. During this time, Roberta devoted herself fully to being the best mother possible to her two boys. When they reached school age, she resumed teaching at the same private school they attended.

Throughout her life, Roberta’s faith was her highest priority, equal only to her family. She led Bible studies, taught at Christian schools, and performed missionary work in Mexico alongside Walter. In 1986, Roberta and Walter spent several weeks building a church in Córdoba, Argentina.

In late 1986, an event occurred that would change the family’s trajectory. While driving to a music lesson, a reckless driver ran a stop sign and broadsided the family car at high speed. Roberta was at the point of impact and suffered broken ribs and a cracked pelvis, resulting in a lengthy hospital stay. Following the accident, Roberta and Walter decided that city life was no longer healthy for their family.

In 1987, the family moved to an 80-acre ranch, nine miles outside of Willcox in southeastern Arizona. Walter transferred to Tucson and flew the airplane to work daily from the property. Roberta once again took on the role of teacher—this time homeschooling her sons. In addition to traditional academics, their education included caring for chickens and rabbits and growing vegetables, skills Roberta knew well from her farm upbringing.

Walter retired in 1998. With their sons grown and starting their own lives, Roberta and Walter pursued travel in their classic Airstream travel trailer. They made several trips across the country to visit Roberta’s family in the Midwest, as well as a memorable journey to Alaska. They continued their missionary work, and Roberta remained steadfast in leading Bible studies. For many years, the family gathered at Lake Powell to vacation on Roberta’s birthday to celebrate.

In 2000, Roberta welcomed her first grandchild, Joseph. She cherished being a grandmother beyond words and was equally delighted when her granddaughter, Aspen, was born in 2012.

In 2014, Roberta and Walter celebrated 50 years of marriage in the same church where they had been wed. They arrived in the same car from their first date, while friends and family traveled from across the country to honor their love and dedication. Walter serenaded Roberta on the guitar, and they renewed their vows and rejoiced in their life together.

Circumstances changed shortly after the event and plans for continued travel and family adventures were halted when Roberta began experiencing spells of confusion and disorientation. After consulting several specialists, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015. The following decade marked a cruel and steady decline of a wonderful mind that had loved learning and teaching until nothing remained.

Throughout this time, Walter served as Roberta’s devoted 24/7 caregiver, insisting that no one could care for his bride better than he could. Her doctors were astonished by the level of physical health she maintained under his care. Walter attended to her every need and hand-fed her all of her meals for more than five years after she could no longer feed herself.

On December 8, 2025 at 1:45 a.m., at the age of 83, Roberta’s heart beat for the last time as she was lovingly held in the arms of her husband of 61 years in their Willcox home. Roberta is survived by her husband, her two sons, one grandson, and one granddaughter, and she is cherished by all who knew her.

A celebration of Roberta’s life will take place at South Lawn Cemetery on January 9, 2026 at 3:00 pm. 5401 S Park Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. https://curealz.org