[In Memoriam] Betty Bowser Roberds, 99

The following obituary originally was published by Clements Funeral and Cremation Service:

Betty Bowser Roberds passed away on June 2 at TerraBella Assisted Living in Hillsborough. She was 99. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of the late Samuel and Dora Bowser. In addition to her parents, Roberds was also predeceased by her husband, David Curtis Roberds, her three sisters, and her brother. She was the youngest of the siblings, and the older siblings always let family members know that she was lucky because she got out of doing any chores.

Roberds was an extremely determined person, leaving Ohio, her parents, and older siblings at 16 years old to live with her aunt in Northern Virginia in 1941. Betty and David met each other in Washington, D.C., at a Navy social party. After a short engagement, they married on Oct. 20, 1945. The arrival of son David Jr., followed by daughter Carol, completed the Roberds family. After an adventurous Navy career, which included overseas assignments in Yokosuka, Japan, and Bremerhaven, Germany, David retired from the U.S. Navy in 1961, and the Roberds family established permanent residence in the Washington, D.C., area.

In Roberds’ later years, she moved to Durham to be near her daughter, Carol, and her family. Both Betty and her husband were avid square dancers and bridge players, often hosting social gatherings with like-minded friends. Roberds was a long-time member of Hughes United Methodist Church and enjoyed the many activities of her Christian community. After her children were on their own, she returned to the workforce with a job at the American Medical Writers Association, where she traveled for conventions. After retirement, she enjoyed sewing, bridge parties, and visiting family.

Roberds is survived by her daughter, Carol Debien, and husband Paul; son, David Roberds Jr., and wife Kim; granddaughters Gina, Christina, and Mary; one great-grandson; and three great-granddaughters.

A funeral service was set for Sunday, June 9, at Clements Funeral Chapel in Durham. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.

Southpoint Access is a free community news website run as a service to our neighbors in South Durham. Please consider supporting us as a subscriber on Patreon or donate to underwrite the cost of covering the news that matters to you in neighborhoods like Woodcroft, Parkwood, Fairfield, and Hope Valley Farms.