Roberta Jeanne Alexander

Alexander, Roberta Jeanne, 88, was born July 16, 1917 in Wichita to parents, Thomas and Roberta (Downs) Alexander. She graduated from Wichita High School East, attended Friends University, and graduated from the National Training School in Kansas City, Missouri. Roberta began working as a Deaconess for the Methodist Church in Youngstown, Ohio, and later did similar work in Helena, Montana, Thomasville, Georgia, and San Francisco, California. She returned to Wichita at the beginning of World War II to live with her parents, and during that time worked at Boeing. After the war, Roberta continued her education at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where she earned a Masters Degree in Sociology in 1946. She went to work in the field of “Home Mission” in New York City and worked there for approximately fifteen years. She then returned to Wichita to care for her aging parents and provided a home for them for the remainder of their lives. She continued to work for Social Services of Sedgwick County until her retirement in 1987 at the age of 70. Roberta was a resident of the Presbyterian Manor until her death on, Saturday, April 15, 2006. She was active in the First United Methodist Church and Chapel Hill Fellowship. During her retirement years, she volunteered for and was active in many programs including reading for the blind, literacy programs, the Compeer program, Business Professional Womens Sunday School Class, United Methodist Woman, and Disciples Covenant Group. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Thomas Downs Alexander. She is survived by her brother, Dr. William (Eleanor) Alexander of Bella Vista, AR; nieces and nephews, Kathy Bell of Liberty, MO, James Alexander of Mission, KS, Susan Norris of Port Richey, FL, Toma Pierce of Wichita, and Carl Ray Alexander of Mountain Home, AR.; many friends, including Lois Stewart, and Steve and Mary Edwards and their family. Service, 2:00 P.M., Saturday, April 22, 2006 at Presbyterian Manor Chapel. Dr Alexander has requested that donations be made to Hospice Care of Kansas, 3241 E. Victor Pl., Wichita, KS 67208, and First United Methodist Church, 330 S. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing and Lahey Mortuary West.