Loquita Roberson Cabe

Loquita Roberson Cabe, 88, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 5, 2005. Funeral services for Mrs. Cabe, a long-time member of University Avenue Church of Christ, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home followed by interment at Austin Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Born Loquita Llanona Box on a farm in Erath County near Dublin, Texas, on September 29, 1916, she was the third child of John and Zola Box. After her older sister Dorene, died at the age of three, Loquita and Dorene’s twin brother Donald became inseparable. Only 16 months apart, they began first grade the same year and made the long walk to school together until graduation from high school. They had three younger brothers and a younger sister. At the age of 18, on May 9, 1935, Loquita married Clifford Harley “Dutch” Roberson. Dutch and Loquita had two daughters, Joan and Dortha Jean. During World War II, Loquita held two wartime jobs, the first at a munitions plant in Texas, where she was selected for the dangerous job of installing nitroglycerin in bombs. Later, she and Dutch worked as welders in a ship factory in Seattle, Washington. Loquita held the important job of welding the final plate that secured the prow of the ship. After the war, they bought a farm and built a house near Dublin with funds saved working in the war factories. Two tragedies, Joan’s death of pneumonia in 1939 and Dutch’s death of encephalitis in 1944—left Loquita a widow with one small child at the age of 27. With the help of her father, she managed to operate her peanut farm while serving as cosmetician at the Dublin Drug Store. When Dortha was 14, Loquita accepted a job in Austin as head of the cosmetics department at Yaring’s Department Store on Congress Avenue and enrolled her daughter at Austin High School to prepare her for the University of Texas. Known for her fashion sense, her friendly service, and her striking beauty, Loquita was consulted by faithful customers from all over Austin before she retired after 30 years with Yaring’s. On June 6, 1969, she married Ernest W. Cabe Jr., an elder of the University Avenue Church, who served as director of personnel and assistant superintendent of the Austin Independent School District from 1950 to 1975. Ernest died August 4, 1985, after an extended illness. Mrs. Cabe is survived by her daughter Dortha Collins of Dublin; her stepson David Cabe of Austin; her grandchildren, Michael Collins of Plano, Greg Cabe of Simpsonville, SC, and Amanda Carter of Aberdeen, MD; her great grandchildren Camry Collins, Carter Cabe, and Emory Cabe; her sister, Ella Gene Maikell of Dublin; her brothers, Donald Box of Rusk, Madison Box of Midland, and Johnny Box of Azle, and numerous relatives and friends. Loquita’s family wishes to thank the staff of Parmer Woods Assisted Living Center for their kindness and compassion and to thank her niece, Marquita Moss, for her steadfast support and loving care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brentwood Christian School, 11908 North Lamar, Austin 78753 or the Austin Graduate School of Theology, 1909 University Avenue, Austin 78705. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com