Roberta Watts

Roberta Watts, 101 of Arlington, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 4, 2017, after suffering a stroke the day prior. Funeral: {time, date, place}. Interment: {time, date} at Parkdale Cemetery in downtown Arlington.

Roberta was born November 15, 1915 in a home near Sherry Street and Park Row Drive in Arlington. She grew up in Arlington and graduated from Grand Prairie High School. She worked for Montgomery Ward in the old Fort Worth Montgomery Ward building on West Seventh Street. She also raised her family, including twins – a son and a daughter – born on December 7, 1941. In all she had four children. In addition to Arlington, Roberta lived in both Fort Worth and in Harlingen, Texas, in her life. She was a long-time member of the former Handley Baptist Church.

In her latter years, she lived in Arlington’s Fox Run Estates and was surrounded by many friends each day. She celebrated her 100th birthday at Fox Run in 2015, where she was honored with a proclamation by Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. Roberta had a keen wit and agile mind, even learning some basic computer skills when she was in her 90s. She also worked diligently at Fox Run to make new residents feel welcomed in their retirement community. Despite her failing eyesight and hearing, Roberta remained mobile and spent time with friends and family visitors.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Linda Kay Jordan, her granddaughter Karen Paige Kimsey Lewis, and by each of her husbands Orvel Jordan, Thomas McMahan and J.D. Watts. She is survived by her daughter Diann Kimsey and husband Jim; sons Don Jordan and Bob Jordan; granddaughters Kelly Kimsey Bradshaw, Dondi Jordan Hayhurst and husband Roy, and Deona Jordan Guajardo and wife Monica; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter born in 2016, and numerous extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Karen Paige Kimsey Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund. Gifts can be sent to: Richland High School, c/o Kelly Bradshaw, 5201 Holiday Lane East, North Richland Hills, Texas 76180.