Joyce E. Roberts, 90 of Bluffton passed away Friday morning December 25, 2020 at River Terrace Retirement Community. She graduated from Rockcreek High School along with her future husband Les in 1948. In addition to raising their own family, they were privileged to be Foster Parents to many other children over the years. Joyce was active in St. Paul Lutheran Church. Her hobbies included gardening, reading and music, especially musicals. She completed a genealogy of the Gilbert family dating back to the Mayflower. She loved spending time with the family, hosting reunions, weekly visits with her sisters, family Christmas, family vacations, book club and any other excuse for a get together! She lived on the Gilbert family farm and hosted the 100 year celebration in 2012. Grandkids were the love of her life and she often could be seen hoeing weeds in the fields with a crew of grandkids.
She was born on December 2, 1930 in Wells County, a daughter of the late John B. and Reeta E. (Dowty) Gilbert.
She was united in marriage to Lester E. Roberts on May 25, 1952. Les preceded her in death on April 13, 1998.
Survivors include a son: Kim (Jan) Roberts of Coldwater MI; five daughters Rita (Dave) Brinneman of Bluffton IN, Amy (Dave) Kreigh of Ossian IN, Lori (Dave) Lowe of Indianapolis IN, Melissa (Todd) Graft of Geneva IN and Jennifer (Jerry) Meyer of Bluffton, IN. Siblings: Ruth Arnold of Bluffton IN, Darrell Gilbert of Bluffton IN, David (Linda) Gilbert of Middletown IN, Carol (Jerry) Day of Markle IN. 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother: Lowell (Jeanne) Gilbert and two sisters: Lois Shearer and Janet Cluster.
A private family memorial service will take place at the Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel, 415 N. Lee Street, Markle, Indiana.
Interment will take place in the St. Paul Cemetery in rural Uniondale.
Preferred Memorials are to the Dementia Society of America or the National Foster Parent Association sent in c/o, Myers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 403, Markle, IN 46770.
