Barbara A. Roberts

Barbara Alves Cheney Roberts passed away May 13, 2014 in Baton Rouge.  She was born July 24, 1922 in El Paso, Texas.  Services will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 16, 2014 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Boulevard.  Visitation will be Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Boulevard from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and on Friday at 10:00 AM at the church .Mrs. Roberts is survived by her husband of seventy-two years, George Samuel Roberts, of Baton Rouge, children Frank (wife Anita) of Hideaway, Texas, Gerald (wife Cookie) of Moss Bluff, Louisiana, David (wife Belinda) of Holmwood, Louisiana, and Beverly (husband Curt Bailey) of Baton Rouge, fifteen grandchildren, and forty-four great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin Washington Cheney and Gertrude Windsor Smith Cheney, her adoptive parents, R. Burrow Alves and Emily Eileen Windsor Alves, one son, and one grandson. Barbara loved her family. Her husband, children, and grandchildren rallied around her.  She was a wonderful mother and, as her children left home to start their own families, she gracefully took on the roles of grandmother and great-grandmother.  Over the years she hosted numerous family gatherings.  Her home was always open to her family.  She was her family's biggest fan.   As a well read individual, she could engage in conversations on many subjects and enjoyed, immensely, talking to others. Some of the many organizations she was affiliated with were: the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Colonial Dames, League of Women Voters, PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, Church Women's Auxiliary, Garden Club, Book Clubs, and Dance Clubs.  She held positions in many of these organizations. Some of her other interests were: Traveling, which she did extensively with her husband and other family members with destinations like Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Japan; Playing tennis, which she did into her eighties; Playing bridge, which she did until just before her death; and family history in which  she was heavily involved doing such things as   researching and documenting her family history, publishing several books about her family and her   husband's family .After graduating from El Paso High School, she attended Stevens College, Texas School of Mines, and then earned her BA and MA degrees in library science from LSU.  For a few years, she was the Head Librarian at Episcopal High School and was a survivor of the 1971 tornado that struck that library. She was a great lady and we all shall miss her. Please sign our online registry atwww.rabenhorst.com.