Carolyn B. Roberts

Carolyn Barbara Roberts went home to be with the Lord on November 12, 2022 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.  Carolyn was born November 7, 1933 to George and Adelaide Hicks in Elkhorn, West Virginia.  After growing up in Elkhorn, Carolyn became a lifelong learner and mastered the science and passion of the field of Nursing.  Carolyn received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hampton University in 1959, a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Maternal-Child Health from Loyola University of Chicago in 1974, then completed numerous post-Masters courses at the University of Akron from 1976-1986.  Carolyn loved caring for others so the field of nursing suited her well.  She shared her passion while working as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Highland Park Hospital and the Lake County Health Department, both in Illinois.  Carolyn equally loved helping students refine their nursing skills so she chose to focus on instruction from 1976 until 1999 when she retired.  Carolyn started her teaching career at the College of Lake County in Illinois where she served as a Practical Nurse Instructor, then instructed in Ohio at the Akron City Hospital, the University of Akron’s College of Nursing, and Kent State University’s College of Nursing.  Carolyn’s calm demeanor, gentle yet passionate delivery of nursing concepts, and zest for learning allowed her to enable the success of nurses across the US.

Carolyn was united in marriage to Howard Roberts August 10, 1979, and they resided most of their married years in Massillon, Ohio where they became avid boaters and travelers.  Howard and Carolyn even purchased a boat and named her “Ms. Carolyn”.  Just as they enjoyed spending time with family, they also enjoyed their “boating family” at Lake Erie.  Although their health prevented them from traveling during their recent years, they stayed in contact with family and friends from around the globe and enjoyed reminiscing through photo memories.  Carolyn prided herself in her culinary skills and was a great cook and baker.  Even while receiving at-home healthcare, Carolyn still enjoyed instructing her aides in making her favorite recipes to include cookies.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; George and Adelaide Hicks; her husband, Howard Roberts; and sister-in-law, Margaret (Roberts) Hankins.  She leaves to cherish her memory, a Step-Son, Barrett Roberts; brother-in-law, Dr. Andrew Hankins; nephew, Corbin Hankins; niece, Andrea (Hankins) Taylor; special cousins, Anita Rockingham; Sharon Evans;  Alice Marshall; Reggie (Patricia) Marshall; Michael (Melanie) Marshall, and a host of cousins and friends to include her care team members and neighbors.

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