Roberta Evelyn Maudlin

Roberta Evelyn Maudlin, age 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Watseka, Illinois.

She was born on May 3, 1934 in Ridge Farm, Illinois to Howard and Mildred (Emory) Callahan. She was a beloved child and shared many stories of growing up in a home with three older generations of doting relatives.

As a senior at Ridge Farm High School, Roberta found herself without a date for an upcoming dance. Her cousin, Ray Callahan, arranged a blind date with his University of Illinois roommate, Thomas Maudlin. This blind date changed their lives forever, and Tom and Roberta were married on June 13, 1954.

After Tom graduated from U of I Veterinary School, they settled in Cissna Park, Illinois where Roberta became a busy mother of six children and an active participant in the community. In addition to these roles, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Education from Olivet Nazarene University in 1974.

Roberta's career as a teacher began in Rankin and she often shared her wonderful memories of serving that community. Later, she taught in Hoopeston until retirement. She enjoyed watching her children participate in sports, plays, recitals, concerts, and other various activities. She was an enthusiastic supporter of Tom's antique automobile restoration hobby and often was found dressed in historical clothing sitting next to him in a parade. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church where she also played the piano and organ. She was a member of the Princess Wach-e-kee Chapter of the NSDAR, Claytonville Civic Club, and bridge, euchre, and antique clubs.

Roberta had an incredible love of reading and history. Her adventurous spirit led her to many destinations. While teaching her second-grade class about the empire penguins, she vowed that one day she would see them. To the awe of all those who knew her, she-alone-signed up for a trip aboard the Ocean Explorer I cruise ship and circumnavigated the southern hemisphere for four months. She visited amazing locations all over the world, and, notably, the Antarctic empire penguins in December of 1999. Tom and Roberta visited Europe, Asia, South America, Turkey, New Zealand, and Australia. Their final trip, in October 2013, was to northern France where they toured the Western Front and the locations where Tom's father had served as a WWI Army cartographer. They returned home from every trip telling their family what a beautiful world we live in and what wonderful, kind people they encountered.

Roberta had an amazing ability to make adventures out of mundane errands. She was a wonderful homemaker, cook and baker, and she was unmatched at making holidays feel special, especially Christmas. She was a prolific gardener like her great-grandfather. She loved her home, backyard, the trees at the edge of their farmland, and all the wildlife that came with it, large or small. She deeply loved all her pets and was a fierce defender of helpless animals. Her friends and family will remember Roberta for her love of family, deep sense of tradition, sense of humor, and extraordinary zest for life. Her legacies of independence, adventure, love of music, and passion for learning live on in her children and grandchildren.

Roberta is survived by her children, Dr. Jeffrey (Elsa) Maudlin of Rio Rico, Arizona, Jaqueline (Stephen) Murley of Boerne, Texas, Jay (Sarah) Maudlin of McFarland, Wisconsin, Julanne (Stephen) Speer of Palm Harbor, Florida, and Joanna (Jun) Pangilinan of Saline, Michigan; 20 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Christine Callahan Boyd. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Tom of 68 years who died July 15, 2022, her parents, and daughter Jennifer Susan.

Her family would like to thank the Memory Care unit at Heritage Woods of Watseka and IMH Hospice for the extraordinary care given to their mother. Words cannot adequately express their gratitude.

Visitation will be held on August 8, 2025 from 9:00-10:00 am at the United Methodist Church in Cissna Park with a memorial service immediately following at 10:00 am. Private burial of both Tom and Roberta will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery in Ridge Farm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Vermilion County Conservation Foundation (https://www.vccfoundation.info/support/#donation).