Frances Pamela Roberts ("Pamie," "Pam"), 72, Austin, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, after a long and determined fight against cancer. She is survived by her loving husband, Owen Roberts; daughters Paige Roberts and Rolinda Lankes; son-in-law Gerald Lankes; granddaughters Karla Lankes and Kamryn Lankes; mother Frances Madeley; brothers William L. Russell III, Robert A. Russell, Hank Madeley, Jim Madeley; sisters Rolinda Brindley and Martha Cervenka; five nieces and eight nephews; and many additional relatives. She was preceded in death by her father William L. Russell Jr. and her step-father Henry Madeley.
Pam was born in Temple, Texas, on February 12, 1946. After graduating from Temple High School in 1964 and North Texas State University in 1968, she began a long and rewarding teaching career. Pam married Owen in 1970. Beginning in the following year she combined her love of teaching and her devotion to her family by putting Owen through law school and shouldering most of the responsibility for nurturing their infant daughter.
Pam's first priorities were God and her family. She also believed she had two callings: teaching and serving others. She enthusiastically taught in public schools for many years, ending her career at Austin's Highland Park Elementary School and retiring in 2004 to devote more time to her granddaughters. She also taught preschoolers in Sunday school for almost two decades. Her service to others included volunteering at addiction facilities, always keeping food in her car for people in need, quickly dropping everything to help family members and friends, and preparing an endless stream of lemon bars and cowboy cookies to brighten people's days.
Pam was extremely thankful for her lifelong friends, some of which were first made in grade school. In recent years, Pam devoted considerable time to her book club and to knitting activities. The book club helped her maintain friendships made while teaching. The knitting activities provided a new passion and added a new circle of close friends.
The family will receive friends on Friday, May 25, 2018 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Weed–Corley–Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas. A service celebrating her life will be held the following day on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 3:00 PM at Austin Baptist Church 7016 Ribelin Ranch Dr, Austin, Texas.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations or personal time be given to The Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Relief Fund or a charity of your choice.
Psalm 23:4-6
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