JO LYNGE ROBERTS

JO LYNGE ROBERTS EDINBURG - Mrs. Bob Roberts passed away on November 25, 2012 in Austin, Tx after what she described as a very rich life. Jo was a beloved wife of 56 years, mother of Cindy, Kip & Mitchell, grandmother of Jenna & Lana, aunt & wonderful friend. She was born on August 18, 1928 to Danish immigrants & Allen, TX pioneers Oscar E. Lynge & Tommie Whisenant Lynge. Her treasured family included sisters "Jack", Lil & Patsy & brother Ed. The family business was the Lynge & Stacy Lumberyard where Jo began to work after school at age 13. Jo's parents placed great emphasis on education – she was an excellent student, president of her freshman & sophomore classes & valedictorian. Upon graduation Jo followed her mother & sisters to Baylor University where she was a member of the national honorary English, Spanish & Education fraternities & First Families of Baylor. She loved the Baylor world, learning & tennis – graduating in just three years with a triple major – English Literature, Education & Spanish of which she was particularly proud having never heard the language until classes began. Jo then taught school in McKinney & Three Rivers before accompanying her brother on a trip to the Rio Grande Valley where she fell in love with the climate, bougainvilleas, citrus groves & palm trees of South Texas. Passing what was Lamar Junior High School in McAllen she immediately decided to apply for & received a job. In 1952 Jo Lynge was set up on a blind date at a Glick Twins barbeque where she was introduced to Bob Roberts (L.J. Roberts, Jr.) – a former WW II Army Major – who became her "knight in shining armor" giving her credit for "rescuing" him from bachelorhood. Jo's father in law L.J. Roberts, Sr. had purchased Standard Chevrolet in Edinburg in 1927 & in 1968 Bob again credited Jo with the name change to Roberts Chevrolet. Bob was General Manager & Co-owner for over 60 years with his brother Harry, working with sons Kip & Mitchell, nephew Mark Roberts & niece Lee Roberts Case. The family proudly celebrated the dealerships 80th anniversary in 2007. While teaching Jo befriended a young student from Mexico, Lupe Garza, whom she hired to help grade papers & to care for her growing family. She later helped her to enter nursing school at Baylor with Lupe thankful to Jo for a 30 year career. As a young wife Jo remained a devoted daughter & daughter in law. She volunteered with the Junior Service League, her children's school activities, gave of her time to the First Baptist Church & assisted with Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis & Beef Club functions. Jo & Bob took great pleasure in helping employees to become citizens & assisting with their employees children's college expenses. Family & home were always her first priority. Mrs. Roberts may have retired from teaching but she remained a teacher all of her life – to the benefit of her family & friends – with far ranging skills, interests & knowledge of art, architecture, design, gardening, music, religion & politics. Jo & Bob encouraged their children & grandchildren to follow world events, to read & always to continue learning. She was praised as an exceptional cook with her children's friends calling in requests prior to visits & her children's birthday parties & special cakes remembered for decades. Jo enjoyed traveling extensively in the U.S. & Europe, treating the family to a QE II transatlantic voyage & six week tour of Europe in 1983 & many visits to N.Y.C. Mrs. Roberts was known for her style, taste, great good looks, keen eye for detail, décor, love of poetry, her beautiful roses, love & protection of her pets & by her obvious joie de vivre. She will be greatly missed by all who loved & adored her. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jeff Hines, longtime physician to Jo & Bob for his wonderful care & emotional support, Dr. Kenneth Cooper – author & founder of the Cooper Clinic in Dallas - for 35 years of excellent care, encouragement & friendship as well as Dr. John Paat of the Mayo Clinic for his dedicated care & long distance advice over many years, special thanks also to Dr. Subrahmanyam Behara, Dr. Pedro Mego, Dr. Carlos Mego, Dr. Subbarao Yarra, Dr. Richard Newton, Dr. Tommie Yee, Dr. Saul Mangi, Dr. Eugene Mackie, Dr. Ruben Salinas & Dr. Harold Stephens. Our great appreciation & thank you to Anita Basaldua and Marcelino Gonzalez for their 40 years of service & dedication to the family & also to Carmelo Morales, Susana Carrizalez & Domingo Hernandez. Grateful thanks to Sally Ortega & Pace Home Health Care for her 5 years of weekly visits. Many thanks to Fidel Lara of Lara's Services & his team of associates: Ester Ballasteros, Rebecca De La Garza, Francisca Rodriguez, Tina Leal, Esmeralda Ayala, Cristi Leal, Magda Reyes, Maria Bautista & Eva Espinoza for their devoted service & kindnesses over the last 5 ½ years. Thank you to Claudia, Sara & Maribel for their considerate care. We would also like to thank the staff of Longhorn Village in Austin as well as Heart to Heart Hospice & Visiting Angels for their compassionate care over the last 3 months. Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her husband Bob Roberts, her parents, her mother & father in law, Francis Long Roberts & L.J. Roberts, Sr., sisters Patsy (age 11), Lillian (late husband Roy) Hefner, Margaret "Jack" (late husband Henry) Wyneken, brother Ed (Jane) Lynge, sister in law Sara Roberts (late husband Gillespie) Baker & niece, Kerry Baker (Sonny) Villarreal. "Mrs. Jo" is survived by daughter Cynthia "Cindy" Roberts of N.Y.C., son Kip Lynge Roberts of Edinburg/Austin, son Mitchell (Paula) Roberts & beloved granddaughters Jenna & Lana of Austin, brother in law Harry (late wife Marjorie) Roberts of Edinburg & sister in law Jane (late husband Ed) Lynge of Allen, nieces & nephews: Dianne Wyneken (James) Meyer of Ovalo, Tx, Marsha Wyneken (Mike) Whitmire of Corpus Christi, Greg (Ruth) Roberts of Dallas, Rebecca "Becky" Roberts (Kent) Wittenburg of Boston, Mark (Terese) Roberts of Brownsville, Lee (late husband Robert) Case of Axtell, Utah, Eddie (Janelle) Lynge, Anne Halderman, Tom (Caressa) Lynge, Tricia (Clay) Musselwhite, Dean (Mitzi) Hefner, Rusty Hefner, great niece Courtney Baker Villarreal Garcia & her cat Baby "Mitten". Mrs. Roberts loved birds – especially hummingbirds, & trees – especially raintrees. Since she left her home in Edinburg in late August to travel to Austin it has been surrounded by hummingbirds & now raintrees in full bloom. The Roberts family appreciates your joining in their celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library, the Historical Museum of South Texas, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley or to the charity of your choice. Honorary pallbearers are Harry Roberts, Rene Wallace, Jeanean Pollock, Lupe Garza Fenner, Martha Glick, Gerry Glick & Jo's late sister in law Marjorie & late friends Ginny Davis, Ivy Holzem, Clara York & Shirley Voss. Pallbearers will be Greg Roberts, Mark Roberts, Eddie Lynge, Tom Lynge, Jack Wallace, Jr., Jack Pollock, Bryan Cook, Daniel Sekula, Dave Reast & David Carlson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday afternoon, December 1, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Edinburg with Pastor Nick Acker officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Edinburg. Funeral services are entrusted to the care of Skinner-Silva Funeral Home of Edinburg. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries