Nela Mae “Nan” Roberts, 81, a lifelong resident of Valley Bend community, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at 12:30 p.m. in Davis Memorial Hospital, where she was admitted earlier in the day. She had been in failing health for the past year.
She was born Aug. 11, 1921, at Mill Creek, a daughter of the late Bert and Bertie Wilkson Roberts.
She is survived by a daughter, Virginia Samples, with whom she had made her home her whole life; three granddaughters, Mrs. Bobbie (Beth) Leary, Mrs. Chris (Jennifer) Kyle, both of Valley Bend, and Mrs. Mike (Karen) Kiziah of Vale, N.C.; five great-grandchildren, Erik and Shane Leary, Amanda Kyle, Tyler and Hannah Kiziah; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, having been preceded in death by five sisters and three brothers.
She was one of the original homesteaders in the Valley Bend community. She was a graduate of Tygart Valley High School with the class of 1942. She was a member of the Randolph County Senior Center and had formerly attended the Valley Bend United Methodist Church, where she was an active member of the choir. In recent years she was a member of the Faith Baptist Chapel at Beverly.
She was formerly employed at the Kenwood Plant and Scotts Store in Valley Bend. She was also a homemaker and loved gardening, flowers and displaying the American flag. She was well known for decorating her home for each and every holiday. She will long be remembered for starting the Valley Bend Flower Community Fund until becoming ill.
Friends will be received at F.E. Runner Funeral Home Chapel after 6 p.m. Saturday. Funeral services will be conducted from the Runner Chapel on Sunday at 2 p.m. Rev. Bill Hopkins of Sutton and the Rev. Frank Long, pastor of Mill Creek Memorial Mission Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in Mill Creek Cemetery at Mill Creek.
