Roberta Lou (Welch) Tipton

Roberta Lou (Welch) Tipton, 81, died at her home surrounded by family on December 25, 2017. Roberta was born August 24, 1936 in Stonewall, OK to Edward Emory and Elsie Louise (Walker) Welch. She grew up in Pontotoc county near Ada. As a teenager, she became the pen pal to a lonesome G.I. in basic training who later became her husband. Roberta and Frank were married in Fittstown, OK on July 17, 1952 upon his return from the front lines in Korea. They celebrated 64 years of marriage before his death earlier this year.

Roberta graduated from Tishomingo High School with honors in 1955. Roberta gave birth to three children: Greta, Stanley, and Annette. When Annette entered the first grade, Roberta started her college education at Panhandle State, commuting over 120 miles round trip. She received her Bachelors of Science in Education from Southwestern State University in 1970.

Upon graduation, Roberta was hired as a social worker for the Oklahoma State Dept. of Human Services in Caddo County. Roberta often spoke of her work as a ministry to others, sharing her love, hope, and belief in the power to overcome. Roberta retired after 30 yrs of service. During retirement, Roberta could be found working in her flower beds or working with many of the foundation quarter horses she raised with her husband. When not caring for horses, she was known for her creative skills in sewing, crafting, and quilting.

Roberta was a woman of great faith and professed Jesus as her Savior all her life. She dedicated her life at the age of 12 and remained faithful until her death. Roberta attended church for 42 years at the Anadarko Church of the Nazarene. She served as Sunday School teacher and board member and sang many solos during worship services. Roberta’s life goals were to raise her children in a Christian home and to provide for their education.

Roberta was preceded in death by: husband Willie Frank Tipton; parents Edward and Elsie Welch; daughter Greta Tipton; brothers Herbert Welch and Fred Welch; and sisters Cora Caniff, Hazel Thomas, Emma Allin. She is survived by: son Stanley Tipton of Rogers, AR; daughter Annette Tipton of Norman, OK; brother Terry Wayne Welch, Sr. of Ada, OK; sister Helen Louise Borges of Norman, OK; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews.