Margaret W. Roby

Margaret Sarah Watters Roby passed peacefully from her home into Eternal Life on December 21, 2022. Visitation, funeral service, and celebration will be held on January 6, 2023 in the Deerfield Event Center, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
On a bitterly cold January 29, 1932, Margaret was welcomed to the world by her parents, Dr. George H. Watters and Alice J. (Shaeffer) Watters, and big sister Anna Jean. Margaret ("Baby Sister," "Maggie") spent her childhood in Des Moines, Iowa. She loved paper dolls, ice skating at Greenwood Park, riding her bike, swimming, summer camp, and, most especially, dancing. A life-long servant of God, Margaret was baptized, confirmed, and married (all by Dr. Weertz) at St. John's Lutheran Church.
Margaret was educated at Hanawalt, Hubbell, Callanan, and Roosevelt (Class of 1949), earning her teaching degree at Drake University. While at Drake, Margaret was introduced by her sister to a handsome fellow from Truro, Iowa named Don Roby. They dated briefly; Don graduated, joined the Air Force, and was stationed in Scotland. True to her caring nature, Margaret thought it would be good to write to the young man who was so far from home, and she did so regularly.
Near the end of her college years, Margaret sailed on the Queen Mary to tour Europe and Great Britain with an all-girls group. Near the tour's conclusion in England, Margaret was sitting in the lobby of London's Waldorf Hotel when, to her great surprise, in walked Don Roby. (Don had secretly inquired of the itinerary, took leave and met up with the tour.) As Margaret would recall, it was the moment she fell in love with the boy from Truro. They completed the tour together, then corresponded daily for the remainder of Don's time overseas. After his return to Iowa, Don got down on one knee and said to Margaret, "It would be the greatest honor of my life if you would marry me."
Margaret and Don were married on July 25, 1953. They lived briefly in Long Beach, CA, where Don completed his military service and Margaret taught 2nd and 3rd grades. They returned to make their home in Des Moines. A son and two daughters were born: George MacDonald, Marcia Louise, and Jeannie Ellen. Don's work as a CPA then took them to Clear Lake, IA. While living there, a terrible accident took the life of their younger daughter. Margaret relied on her faith in God to get through those tough days. As she shared, "Every time I wanted to get weaker, I got stronger." The following year, the family was blessed with the addition of another boy, Alan Robert. The Roby family returned to Des Moines in the fall of 1963.
Margaret was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and grandma. She took her children (and later, grandchildren) to their lessons, cooked beautiful family meals, and filled her family's lives with happiness, consistency, music, and love. Margaret also pursued many creative outlets, including studying interior design, working with mosaic tiles, creating Swedish rya rugs, learning italic printing and later, ornamental penmanship. At the age of 60, concerned that the world might "pass her by," Margaret took a computer class and became quite adept at using it for correspondence and graphic design projects, including greeting cards that she created prodigiously for family and friends. Don's work led to moves to Minnesota, Missouri, and back to Des Moines, but no matter where she found herself, Margaret got involved, made friends and nurtured her creativity. She was privileged to travel with Don to Ireland, Australia, and China for business; they also enjoyed vacations with extended family in Colorado and Hawaii.
Central to Margaret's life was her faith in God, which was exemplified through loving service to others. She was a long-time member of the Cathedral Choir and Bell Choir at St. John's, where she also taught Bible School, Sunday School, and Wednesday Church School. She was a Stephen Minister and a member of the Elizabeth Group. Outside of church, she was a member of Bible Study Fellowship, where her study of God's Word blossomed. She was a BSF discussion leader for 12 years.
Margaret was also a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, the Des Moines Questers, and PEO (chapter GI); she was a founding member of the Scottish Heritage Society of Iowa.
A few years after Don's death (1999), Margaret moved to Deerfield Retirement Community. She embraced the change, making many new friends and rekindling friendships from her childhood. She was a founding member of the Deerfield Chime Choir, and significantly, she started and led the Seekers Bible Study there.
Margaret lived her final two years at Deerfield in the Health Center. She had a beautiful room, loving care, and many friends. She spent her days wheeling about in her chair, pausing to greet staff and other residents, as well as enjoying regular visits from her family.
Margaret was predeceased by one daughter, her parents, her husband and her sister. She is survived by George Roby (Jodi Bodley) of Des Moines, Marcia (Bill) Gilmer of Norwalk, and Alan Roby (Joey Navarro) of Millbrae, CA; four grandchildren (Angie West, Michael Gilmer, Ellen Contreras, and Susan Nordmeyer); seven great-grandchildren, three great-great- grandchildren, four nieces and four nephews. She loved all of her family deeply and unreservedly.
Faith, kindness, caring, and creativity were the hallmarks of this well-lived life. The family would like to express gratitude and thanks to the team at Deerfield who lovingly cared for her. Memorials may be directed to the Deerfield Foundation (13731 Hickman Rd Urbandale, IA 50323) or to St. John's Lutheran Church (600 6th Ave Des Moines, IA 50309).
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