Roberta Eileen Hite

Roberta Eileen (Tyre) Hite, 75, of Kokomo, Indiana, was surrounded by her family as she met her Savior face-to-face on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, from a swift and severe form of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Roberta was born in Pampa, Texas, on December 28, 1947 to Robert and Eleanor (Hutchens) Tyre, but was raised in the Midwest. Roberta believed that being Texan by birth and Midwestern by life gave her the best of America’s heritage. She graduated from Argenta-Oreana High School in Argenta, Illinois in 1965, and attended Eastern Illinois University. Although she began her college career studying math, fearing she had failed a class, she switched majors and graduated from EIU in 1968 with a degree in secondary history and English education. (She would go on to get a “B” in that math class, but history was her true love). As a lifelong learner, she completed graduate courses at IU (Kokomo) and Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana). Roberta would say she regretted never studying until grad school, but her family would say she was just so smart she never needed to study until grad school!

Roberta married Larry Hite on September 20, 1969, at Redeemer Lutheran Church (Kokomo, Indiana), and they renewed marriage vows on September 29, 1979, at Bible Baptist Church, also in Kokomo.

Over her 30+ years in education, Roberta taught middle school social studies and English at various public and private schools in Illinois, St. Croix (USVI), and Indiana, teaching most of her career at Kokomo Christian School. Before retiring in 2006, she impacted numerous students’ lives, where she was known for her high academic standards, consistent encouragement, engaging lessons, and her ever-present green grading pen. She also worked as the yearbook advisor for 25 years, spending countless hours snapping photos and managing editorial layouts.

After retiring, she worked at Conner Prairie as a costumed character and Conner House guide, and over the last seven years volunteered every Friday afternoon as a guide at Seiberling Mansion in Kokomo. She also regularly completed administrative work for the family business, Hite Engineering and Design. She was a member of the Greek Club; Howard County Historical Society; Howard County Genealogical Society; Rosebud member of the Rosie the Riveter Association; and a DAR wannabe. Politically, she was a Democrat but had voted mostly Republican since 1980.

During her time in the St. Croix, Roberta asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior in September 1975 through the ministry of WIVV Missionary Radio, where she said she exchanged head knowledge for heart knowledge, a relationship with Christ, and assurance of salvation. Roberta and Larry were welcomed and grew spiritually at Free Will Baptist Church. Upon returning to Kokomo, she became a member of Bible Baptist Church and served in various volunteer positions.

In her own words, she enjoyed homemade BLT’s, her mother’s beans and cornbread, Goodart’s peanut patties, and loved autumn and Thanksgiving. Also in her own words, she did not like green beans, most salads and other vegetables, or her couches pushed against walls.

With an interest in genealogy and family history, Roberta transcribed and published her mother’s 1938 diary, and then interviewed her mother for her World War 2 memories before nominating her for a Rosie-the-Riveter Association membership.

Besides her marriage, family, and the free gift of salvation, other highlights of her life included: seeing both children graduate from Purdue University, West Lafayette; helicoptering under and over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco; sailing on USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) during a cruise in Boston Harbor; touring Paris and Normandy twice, once in 2004 and again in 2013; walking on Omaha Beach in France and seeing other D-Day sites; seeing Lewis and Clark’s restored camp near the Pacific Ocean; going over the Columbia River bridge at Astoria, Oregon; and watching Secretariat win the Belmont.

She is survived and deeply missed by her husband of 54 years, Larry Hite (Kokomo); son Rob (Robin) Hite, Noblesville, IN ; Daughter Anna (Matthew) Walker, Fishers, IN; wonderful grandchildren: Jack, Sophia, Micah and Nathan Hite and Grant and Grace Walker; sister Ellen Tyre, Pampa, Texas; sister-in-law Sandy Hite (Kokomo); Sisters-in-law Jane Fearnow of Kokomo and Kitty Hite of Peru; one uncle (Lee Hutchens, Pennsylvania), numerous cousins (especially in the Texas Panhandle) and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her father in 1991 and mother in 2018. Tragically, her brother-in-law, Michael Hite of Kokomo, died earlier the same day she did.

Visitation will take place from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, with the service immediately following at 5:30 p.m. at Bible Baptist Church in Kokomo. Contributions can be made to Bible Baptist Church, Kokomo, Indiana, 2635 S. Dixon Road, Kokomo, Indiana, 46902.