Eighth Generation

12456. Blanche Bessie Lee Keller^36477,36478 was born on 14 January 1921 in Watauga Co., NC.³⁶⁴⁷⁷ Blanche died on 23 February 2012 at the age of 91 at Davant Rehab and Extended Care Facility in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC and was buried at Mountlawn Memorial Park and Gardens in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on 26 February 2012.

Obituary, The Watauga Democrat, Feb. 25, 2012

Blanche Keller Roberts, 91, of Highway 105, Boone, died Thursday, February 23, 2012, at the Davant Rehab and Extended Care Facility in Blowing Rock.

Born January 14, 1921 in the Foscoe community, Blanche was a daughter of Charlie and Bessie Coffey Keller. Mrs. Roberts was a charter member of the Greenway Baptist Church. She owned and operated City Florist for more than 30 years. Mrs. Roberts served as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 29 (in Lenoir) and the Mountaineer Garden Club, and was a former member of the John Barden Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Surviving are her son, Charles Marvin "Sonny" Roberts of Boone; her daughter, Malinda Wilcox and husband, Frank, of Lenoir; and son-in-law, John Sweitzer of Boone. Twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Woodrow Roberts, son, William Claude Roberts, two daughters, Dorothy VanDyke and Lillian Sweitzer, and son-in-law, Ned VanDyke.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 3 p.m. at the Greenway Baptist Church, officiated by Dr. David Luster and the Rev. Harold Bennett. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Greenway Baptist Church.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Greenway Baptist Church, 880 Greenway Road, Boone, NC 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Roberts family at http://www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com<.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Roberts family.

An article appeared in the Watauga Co. Mountain Times newspaper on Aug. 8, 1996 describing Mrs. Roberts as being one of Watauga County's two Gold Star mothers. She received it in recognition of the loss of her son William, who was killed in the Viet Nam War in 1968. A copy of the article is attached as source for this note.

Blanche Bessie Lee Keller and Marvin Woodrow Roberts were married on 5 November 1938 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC.³⁶⁴⁷⁹ Marvin Woodrow Roberts, son of George W. Roberts and Ada L. Roberts, was born on 19 June 1916 in Smyth Co., VA. Marvin died in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on 9 May 1989.³⁶⁴⁸⁰

Blanche Bessie Lee Keller and Marvin Woodrow Roberts had the following children: