Roberta A Purdon

passed away January 12,2015 in Ann Arbor, MI, just 2 days shy of her 81st birthday. She was born in Detroit, graduated from New Baltimore High School, attended Capital University, Columbus, OH and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University. She worked as a research biologist with Parke Davis in Rochester and Ann Arbor for many years. After receiving her Master’s Degree from University of Michigan she was employed by the university as a radiation health safety officer. She was always interested in gardening, art forms and music. It was a delight to hear her at the piano. Roberta and her parents made their home together in Ann Arbor where she cared for them in their later years. She encouraged and supported her extended family, even traveling twice to Papua New Guinea to visit her sister, Bernice, and family serving there as Lutheran Missionaries. Roberta was active in the life of Zion Lutheran Church, on a team instrumental in setting up the lay reader program, helping maintain their excellent library and serving the Synod in congregational conflict resolution. She was a founding member of the Sunward Cohousing Community, where she also helped design the Common House kitchen and loved to prepare meals for the community. She also employed her conflict resolution skills as a member of their mediation team. Preceding her in death were her parents, Clarence and Elsie (Meyfarth) Purdon and sisters, Janet (Warren) Eastman and Bernice (Norman) Imbrock. Roberta is survived by a sister, Patricia (James) Hamby, nephews Matt (Valerie) Imbrock, Timothy (Carol) Imbrock and Thomas (Angie) Eastmen, nieces Naomi (David) Radke, Joanna (Chris) Peters and Karen (Mark) Ranzenberger, 16 grand nephews and nieces and 4 great-grand nephews and nieces. The Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI. Visitations will be held Friday, February 6, 2015 from 6-8 pm and Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 10-11 am at Zion Lutheran Church