Betty Jean Roberts, age 89 of Charleston, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 while at Charleston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston.
Funeral Services honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, immediately following the visitation, with Pastor Mike Southards officiating. Burial will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Mattoon. It is requested that thoughtful donations in her honor be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or to the American Cancer Society. Gifts may be left on the memorial table during the visitation or service or may be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.
Betty was born on August 23, 1925 in Charleston, Illinois, a daughter of the late Charles Paul and Helen L. (Lippincott) Andrews.
She married James W. Zimmerle on September 7, 1946 and later married George “Cudge” Brown and Raymond “Mac” Roberts. She is survived by her devoted son, Dennis Michael Zimmerle and wife Linda of Charleston; two grandchildren, Jerad Michael Zimmerle of Charleston and Jessica Mikelin Storm and husband Gentry of Windsor, IL; two great-grandchildren, Travis Zimmerle-Vigil and Eli Storm; her sister Patricia Jane VanDongen of Ypsilanti, MI; a niece Jill Ann Adams of Elberta AL; a nephew, Jon Douglas Adams of Ypsilanti; and a great-niece, Hannah Jane Adams.
B.J., as she was affectionately known, was a 1943 graduate of Charleston High School. For more than 20 years, she served as the clerk for the Selective Service Draft Board. She later worked for Charleston businessman, Fred Wolff as a bookkeeper and also at the former Charleston Osco Pharmacy store. B.J. was a member of First Christian Church in Charleston and a former member of the Women of the Moose Charleston Chapter #1175, Charleston VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Women of the Elks Charleston Lodge #623.
B.J. was extremely outgoing and very social. She enjoyed being with people and her high spirited, fun-loving and outgoing character made others want to be around her. She always enjoyed working because it allowed her to meet and be with people. Bowling was a hobby she truly enjoyed and she bowled with a traveling team for many years.
When at home she enjoyed craft projects and needlework such as crocheting and knitting, and always looked forward to a visit from her grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who she dearly loved.
B.J. was appreciated and respected for her straightforward and candid attitude and she will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends.