Roberta Yates

Roberta Mae (Durfee) Yates was born August 14, 1938, in Bridgton, Maine, to Aldana Robert and Hazel (Manchester) Durfee. They lived in a small cottage that she and her mother visited many years later, taking pictures to commemorate and share with all the generations to come. Roberta was the eldest child of many, and she loved all of them dearly. Sandra, Rodney, Donna, Linda, David, Clifford, Danny, and Jody all held a special place in her heart, and enjoyed every moment she spent with them. She spoke of walking with them to school in the mornings, sometimes going through the woods, and how it was on School Road, because that’s how imaginative they’d been with names back then. She would talk of them going to their grandparents’ home, and of the various places they had lived. When asked about what she did in her teenage years, Roberta replied with a smile, “Oh, just typical teenage stuff. We would sneak into the back of the cemetery, drink beer, and pray that we didn’t get caught.” Her children now understand why they could never get away with anything. Mom always knew, from experience. While still young herself, Roberta traded in her rollerskates from her car hop days for that title she loved best- Mom. It was a name she wore with pride for every day thereafter, doing everything she could to ensure her children had the brightest possible futures. For Roberta, each of her children—all so very different in styles, tastes, and temperament—meant the absolute world to her. Some of her very last words that she wanted conveyed were “I love all of my children.” One of her many jewels of wisdom was this : Marry your best friend. On May 8, 1969, she did just that when she married the love of her life, Tod, by candlelight at the courthouse in Columbus, Ohio. Along with that story, they would also say that she was from Maine, he was from Virginia, and they met in Alaska. Together, they raised their children first in Ohio, followed by Alaska, Washington, and Virginia before finally settling back in Ohio, choosing Huber Heights as their permanent home. Their home was full of love, and often full of people. From their children to their children’s friends, to eventually their children’s spouses, and grandchildren… many… MANY grandchildren, and eventually their great-grandchildren as well. Roberta would always have coffee ready, her smile that could light up an entire stadium, and was always asking “how’s everything at your house?” When asked what her favorite memory was, she stated it was when everyone would come over for a get together, most often occurring around a holiday. She enjoyed having a houseful of family with lots of love and laughter and an abundance of food, including snacks which Roberta referred to as butt food—“a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” She enjoyed traveling with her family, even when said travel began with a spontaneous phone call from her husband while he was at work saying they would be leaving as soon as he got home. She would make sure everything was packed, have coffee and snacks ready, and the map for herself so that she could help get them where they were headed. After Tod retired, their travel was no longer restricted to his work schedule, and they enjoyed visiting with friends and family all over. She especially enjoyed going to visit her family, which had grown extensively, and “Aunt Berta” was always known for her kindness, generosity, and beautiful smile. Roberta also loved going to see her brothers and sisters in Christ. She and Tod had joined the Huber Heights Church of Christ, following them as they became Cassel Hills Church of Christ. She stated that the church wasn’t the building, it was the people. She continued going as often and as long as she could. Roberta enjoyed NASCAR races (some she had seen in person) and football games. Her favorite drivers were Harry Gant and Dale Earnhardt, Sr., and her favorite football teams were the New England Patriots and the Ohio State Buckeyes, although she would watch any team that was playing. Often during a race or a game, she would text back and forth with her daughter, Tracey, as they watched them together in different states. Roberta’s husband, Tod, went to be with the Lord on December 26, 2017, and she missed him dearly everyday. She spent her last year enjoying coffee with her new friends at Vancrest and spending as much time with her family as she could. When asked of one thing she had learned, she said, “Create memories. Spend time with one another. That’s what counts. Forget perfection, just take the time.” Roberta passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by her husband, TSGT Tollie Preston Yates, her parents Aldana Robert Durfee and Hazel (Manchester) Durfee, and her brother Dana. She is survived by her children Lynda LaFleur of Washington Township, Wanda and John Loy of West Milton, Tracey Spencer of Winston-Salem, NC, Scott Yates and Shelly Fairbanks-Yates of Pueblo, CO, Cynthia and Dean Vande Water of Lewis Center, Nickie and Todd Fritschie of Springfield, and Carla Limbert of Englewood. She is also survived by her siblings Sandra, Rodney, Donna, Linda, David, Clifford, Danny, and Jody, along with numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services will be held at Adkins Funeral Home 7055 Dayton Springfield Road, Enon, OH 45323 on Tuesday, April 16. Calling hours are from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, Service at 12:30, and internment at Dayton National Cemetery at 1:45 PM. Please join the family at 3:00 PM at Cassel Hills Church of Christ 836 South Brown School Road Vandalia, OH 45377. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to Crossroads Hospice 8069 Washington Village Dr, Dayton, OH 45458 (937) 886-7225.

Roberta Yates

August 14, 1938 - April 11, 2019