Esther Welsh Roberts

Esther Welsh Roberts, 94, of Bourbonnais, professor emeritus at Olivet Nazarene niversity, passed away Thursday (May 31, 2012) at Provena Heritage Village in Kankakee. Visitation for Esther will be from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the 11 a.m. funeral services at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Graveside services will be held at 11 a .m . / 1 2 p .m . E S T We d n e s d a y a t t h e Huntsville Cemetery in Huntsville, Ohio. Pastor Phillip T. Dorries of the Limestone Community Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Limestone Community Church of the Nazarene or to the Esther and Carl Roberts Scholarship Fund at Olivet Nazarene University. Esther was born May 13, 1918, in Ironton, Ohio, the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Howard Welsh. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1940 and her Master of Arts degree in 1946 from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She was a member of the business education honorary fraternities Pi Omega Pi and Delta Pi Epsilon. Prior to coming to Olivet, she taught two years in business college and five years in the public schools of Ohio. She came to Olivet in 1947 and retired in 1981. In addition to teaching accounting and secretarial subjects, she taught methods courses and supervised teachers in business education. Shewas co-sponsor of the Business Club for several years and, for many years, chairwoman of the United Way at Olivet. She married the Rev. Carl H. Roberts on Feb. 2, 1957, in Columbus, Ohio. They pastored 11 years at the Blue Island Church of the Nazarene and five years at the Aroma Park Church of the Nazarene. After her husband’s retirement, they served as associate pastor for six years at the Wilmington Church of the Nazarene. She was active in the Chicago Central District Missionary Society, where she served as treasurer for 16 years. She was a delegate to the General Missionary Conventions for five years, and was awarded a Distinguished Service Award for her missionary services. She was currently a member of Limestone Community Church of the Nazarene. Esther was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Carl Roberts, Aug. 1, 1994; her parents, three brothers, and four sisters. She was a great-great grandmother, aunt and friend to many. Memorial may be made to Limestone Community Church of the Nazarene or The Esther and Carl Roberts Scholarship Fund at Olivet Nazarene University.

Esther Welsh Roberts

May 13, 1918 - May 31, 2012