Iva Adams Robertson Harper

Ora Iva Adams Robertson Harper, age 96, passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s on August 21, 2018. Iva, as she was known to her friend and family, was a devoted wife and mother, loyal friend, churchgoer and dedicated employee.

She was born on December 21, 1921, in Brights, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to Lizzie Ella Short and Taylor Washington Adams. She was one of 15 siblings. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Benjamin Elmo Robertson, both of her parents and several siblings.

Iva grew up in Brights on the family farm. As the second oldest of 15 children, she helped keep house, cook, care for her other siblings and helped out on the farm.

At the age of 18, she moved to Roanoke to support herself and keep house for a family friend. She moved to Lynchburg, in 1941 where she worked at the textile mill and met her future husband. She married Elmo Robertson when she was 20 before he left to serve in the U.S. Navy in World War II. They soon started a family and welcomed daughter Barbara in 1943 and Susan in 1951.

While only having an seventh-grade education, she was able to secure a job with General Electric in 1958 working on the assembly line, then later as an inspector and finally as a draftsman. She and Elmo both worked at GE until his untimely death in 1974. Iva retired from GE in 1987 after nearly 30 years with the company.

Iva loved to country and western dance, cook for family and friends, serve in her church and was an exceptional bowler participating in many leagues. She also liked to drive fast cars.

She was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life and was always lending a helping hand to those in need regardless of their background.

She is survived by her current caring and loving husband, Robert “Bob” Harper, who she married in 2000. The family wants to acknowledge and express appreciation for the care Robert Harper provided their mother for the last years of her life. She is also survived by her loving daughters: Barbara Robertson Stephens (Dallas, Texas) and Susan Robertson McDaniel (Rustburg, Virginia); seven grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; eight siblings and countless nieces, nephews and cousins in the Central Virginia area.

The family wishes to thank Runk & Pratt retirement home for eight wonderful and loving years of care.

A funeral service for Iva will be held Friday, August 24, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 110 Melinda Drive in Lynchburg. Iva will be buried at Fort Hill Memorial Park in Lynchburg. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.