Ruth Roberts

1927 - 2018

Longtime Boulder resident Ruth Roberts, the Master of the Roses, passed away peacefully at her home in the memory care facility at Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Boulder Monday, February 12, 2018 at age 90. Ruth was born in Okmulgee, OK on November 13, 1927 to Edward and Evelyn Opfell. The dustbowl and depression era necessitated their move to the family-owned farm on the Iowa River near Iowa City, IA. It was there where Ruth developed her lifelong love of gardening while helping her mother tend to their large vegetable and fruit garden. While attending high school in the midst of WWII, she was awarded first place by the 4H Club for her Victory Garden. Ruth graduated from the University of Iowa (UI) School of Nursing in 1949. She met Morris O. "Shorty" Roberts while at UI and married in June of 1949. Sons Jeff and Barry were born in Iowa and the family subsequently migrated west to Granby, CO. Due to Shorty's altitude related health issues, the family moved down to Ft. Collins, where son Casey was born, and shortly thereafter to Boulder. Ruth worked at Boulder Community Hospital (BCH) from the early 1960s until her retirement in 1992. She held many different nursing positions at BCH while additionally working night shifts at Wardenburg Hospital on the CU campus. Ruth returned to college in the mid-1970s, first attending Loretto Heights (now Regis University) for a BS in Nursing Science, and then the University of Colorado Medical Center for her MA in Medical/Surgical Nursing, graduating in 1979. Her master's degree qualified Ruth to become the Discharge Planner for BCH, a position that she loved due to the challenges presented to her on a daily basis. Her position also freed up her weekends for indulging in her cherished lifelong hobby of gardening. Ruth was a prolific gardener with a knack for growing just about anything, including two magnolia trees, rhododendrons, azaleas, irises, orchids, and hundreds of rose bushes (her favorite). Prior to retirement, Ruth would seek out gardens to visit, such as Filoli (CA), Bellingrath (AL), and Butchart (BC Canada). After retirement, she visited gardens in Europe and England, which was her dream come true. Ruth was a member of the Boulder Rose Society for more than 50 years and won numerous ribbons and awards for her roses. She was also an ardent animal lover (except for the deer which would try to devour the plants in her yard). Ruth's many accomplishments include hosting numerous garden tours of her Boulder garden, being prominently featured in"Boulder Home and Garden" magazine, and participating in the Bolder Boulder 10K at the ages of 60, 70, and 80. Ruth's grandson-in-law, Dave Walker, will compete in this year's race in her honor. Ruth is preceded in death by Shorty, her husband of 49 years, her parents Edward and Evelyn Opfell, and brothers Dr. Richard Opfell and Col. Ronald Opfell (USAF). She is survived by her sons Jeff (Sandy) of Superior, Barry (Mary) of Longmont, and Casey (Patti) of Superior, grandchildren Zak Roberts of Denver, Dr. Jeanie Roberts (Dave) of Boulder, Brandon Lang of Cheyenne, Jackson Roberts of Superior, cousin and close friend Susan Nimmanheminda of Lafayette, and brothers Dr. John Opfell, Sonoma, CA and James (Celeste) Opfell of Ohio. A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1241 Ceres Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026. The family asks that in lieu of sending flower arrangements, bring a single rose to the memorial service or plant a rose bush in her memory.