Frances Eckstein Roberton

Fran was born in Washington DC on August 30th, 1947, to Harry and Madeline (Winn) Eckstein of Silver Spring MD, where she was raised. She attended Montgomery County public schools and graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1965, where she was active in the school’s music and theater departments.

Fran went on to attend Greensboro College in Greensboro NC, where she excelled in several leadership roles as well as the music department. She majored in music education. Fran was the seventh woman in her family to attend GC. (Her daughter Kate later became the ninth.) Fran was active in alumni events and remained a lifelong enthusiastic supporter of GC.

Following her graduation, Fran returned to Montgomery County to begin her teaching career. Over the next 41 years, she taught music, English, and math, earned a Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Penn State University, and served as a guidance counselor and administrator in eight schools across three states. Most of her career was at the middle school level, which she loved.

Fran ended her teaching career at Northwest High School in Germantown MD in 2012. There, among other things, she worked with students at risk of not graduating. She got each one across the academic finish line—a success rate of 100 percent.

In retirement, Fran focused on family, delighting in the success of her three children and five grandchildren. She and Craig also enjoyed traveling afar, including trips to Europe, South Africa and Costa Rica, and cruises through the Panama Canal, to Alaska, and to Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland. At home, amongst many other endeavors, she enjoyed puzzles, card games, reading, gardening, framing, and sewing. She was known among her grandchildren as the “rip fixer.” One of her dreams was to visit all 30 major league ballparks. She had five to go.

Fran is survived by her husband of 50 years, Craig Roberton, of Gaithersburg MD; three children—Winn Roberton (Laura Bartee) of Washington DC; Kate Sorkin (Justin) of Loveland, OH; and Clark Roberton (Candice) of Chicago, IL. She leaves five grandchildren—Libby Sorkin, 9; Ollie Roberton, 9; Eddie Sorkin, 7; Noa Roberton, 6; and Joey Sorkin, 5. Fran is also survived by three sisters—Elizabeth Chase of Chapel Hill NC, Maggie Winn-Jones of Las Vegas NV; and Katherine Johnson of Pinehurst NC; and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers any memorials in Fran’s honor be made to:

· Greensboro College: https://www.greensboro.edu/give/

· Save The Music Foundation: https://www.savethemusic.org

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 9:00am to 11:00am followed by a funeral service at 11:00am at DeVol Funeral Home, Gaithersburg, MD. Interment will be private.

A celebration of life will continue at Outta the Way Cafe with food and drinks from 12-3. Outta The Way Cafe is located at 17503 Redland Road, Derwood, MD 20855, which is about a 10 minute drive from DeVol Funeral Home.