Roberta Marie Rodrian Skinner

Roberta Marie (Rodrian) Skinner, 96, of Evansville, died peacefully Thursday, February 2, 2012, at the Evansville Protestant Home. She was born on November 8, 1915, in Evansville, to the late Minnie (Deutsch) and George Rodrian. She graduated from Bosse High School and Lockyear’s Business College, later taking classes at Evansville College. She was employed by Mead Johnson until the birth of her children and later served as billing secretary for Niednagel Florists. Roberta was a confirmed member of St. John’s UCC Downtown and a current member of Christ Church UCC. She was active in church women’s groups, enjoyed Bible study, and was a member of the St. John’s Cradle Roll visitors and the Lincoln Bible class. She served as a Brownie Girl Scout leader and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. Roberta enjoyed playing the piano for her family, reading, planning for trips and traveling with her husband, playing Clabber, Canasta and Bridge with their couple’s groups. Baking classic German cookies at Christmas was a family tradition in which she delighted as well as in pondering and researching new ideas. She courageously dealt with blindness in the last decade of her life and was a tireless caretaker of her children in their childhood years. Roberta was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul, in 1997; brother, Roland Rodrian; son-in-law, Rev. Lawrence E. Richert; grandsons, Jonathon Thomas Skinner and Austin Joseph Skinner; and great-granddaughter, Aislinn Rose Seiler. She is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Richert of Evansville; sons, Ralph Skinner (Darla Sue) of Orlando, FL, Ronald Skinner (Linda) of Xenia, OH and Jeffrey Skinner (Shauna Brummet) of Wadsworth, OH; grandchildren, Gina Johnson, Bryan Richert, Todd Skinner, Alicia Hopper and Christopher Skinner; and great-grandchildren, Kyle, Derek, Kara, Ben, Mason, Colton and Carter. Services will be 10:00 AM Monday, February 6, 2012, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Rev. Stephen Beutler, with burial in Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may visit Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the funeral home. The family would like to thank the employees of the Evansville Protestant Home for their loving care of Roberta since 1997, caregiver Chole Thomas, volunteer Joyce Ivy and VistaCare Hospice workers for their additional support, compassion and care in recent months. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church UCC, St. John’s UCC or the Evansville Association for the Blind.