Roberta M. Warner

Roberta Margaret Warner, age 99, died Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Meadows Manor East Nursing Home in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was born in her parent’s home overlooking the old Erie Canal (Lock # 16); State Route #16 (now #416) and the Tuscarawas River (south of New Philadelphia) on January 31, 1914. She was next to the youngest of nine children of Robert Donnelson Carlisle, Jr. and Elizabeth Stoeklin Carlisle. The Robert Donnelson Carlisle, Sr. family emigrated from Dunbartenshire, Scotland (near Glasgow) in the late 19th Century. At the time of her, death, she was the oldest living graduate of Midvale High School, having graduated in May, 1931.

Roberta was predeceased by all of her loveable siblings as well as by her faithful and treasured lifelong companion, Edward Charles Warner (pictured here with her on their 40th wedding anniversary) who died of pancreatic cancer on July 17, 1983. Roberta and Edward were married on Christmas morning, 1934, in the living room of her aunt and uncle with her uncle John D. Carlisle performing the ceremony. They celebrated doubly every Christmas morning.

She is survived by one son, Edward Allen Warner, a grandson Aaron Thomas Warner and his wife, Karla, and two great-grandsons, William and Journey Warner, all of Terre Haute, Indiana. She is also survived by a granddaughter, Christa Lynn Warner Cruz and two great-granddaughters Emily and Tessa Cruz of Arlington Heights (North Chicago), Illinois.

In the Tuscarawas County, Ohio area Roberta Warner is survived by dozens of nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and numerous other relatives in the extended Warner Carlisle and Maurer families. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in East Avenue Cemetery where the overwhelming number of the lifelong relatives and friends are also buried. Roberta was a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II taking a man’s place in a clay tile factory of the Universal Sewer Pipe Plant No. 2 while her husband spent two years in Germany April, 1944 to 1946. She worked both as a waitress and a cook in Bonvechio’s Tavern and Restaurant in Wainwright. She worked seasonally dressing poultry at Watson’s Hatchery and Dressing Plant on the Southside. The last decade of her employment was as a check out cashier at Beaber’s IGA on the Southside of the corner of Commercial and Broadway Avenues where she was able to see so many of her friends and relatives coming and going regularly.

Roberta was known, loved and respected as a hard worker, a spotless housekeeper and homemaker, an excellent cook (especially with double-crust fruit pies!) a generous and sharing neighbor, and an ambitious gardener.

The family will greet guests on Monday, April 29 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. An additional hour of visitation will be held in the funeral home’s chapel on Tuesday, April 30 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM where Elder Ron Harmon will lead a celebration of life service for Roberta beginning at 10:00 AM. Following the graveside service at East Avenue Cemetery, all are invited to join the family for a time of food and fellowship in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the New Philadelphia Funeral Home.

Roberta and her husband were lifelong members of the Community of Christ Church, located on New Philadelphia’s Southside. In honoring their commitment to the congregation, the family suggests memorial contributions be directed to Community of Christ Church, 515 Church Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.