Carol Jean Roberts

Carol Roberts, 80, passed away Saturday, September 11 at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, OH. She was born on December 13, 1929 to Fred C. and Mildred Amanda (Pratt) Jackson in Birmingham, Alabama. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Jim; children, Jim Jr. (Cindy) Roberts, Mary Roberts, Fred (Elizabeth) Roberts, Tom (Lynette) Roberts, Chris Roberts, and Doug Roberts; grandchildren: Kerry (Andrew Hagner), Katharine, Meaghan, Callan, Pierce, James III “Jake,” Makena, Brewer, Jordan, Jackson, Larson, and Logan Roberts; great-granddaughter, Abigail Rose; brother, Fred (Carla) Jackson, sister-in-law, Sally Ahrendt, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Carol was preceded in death by her parents. Carol Jean Jackson earned her Master's degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Her friendship with Jim Roberts began in grade school in Akron, where both of their fathers worked for Firestone Rubber Co. Their romance would blossom after Jim gave Carol his 8th grade pin, and they would celebrate 58 years of marriage on September 6, 2010. Carol married Jim while he was at the Ohio State University School of Medicine, and after internship and residency, she and young Jim, Jr., accompanied him to post-WWII Paris, where he was a Captain in the US Army. There Carol became a fluent French speaker and graduate of the famed Cordon Bleu cooking school, much to the enjoyment of her family who will long remember her crepes, buche de Noel and mousse au chocolat, along with her classic Southern cooking. The family settled in Toledo in 1960 where Dr. Roberts began his pediatric practice with Dr. Ralph Zucker. Carol was a loving mother to six children, and was active in all of their Ottawa Hills school and sports activities. She was a Girl Scout leader, active and sustaining member of the Junior League of Toledo, volunteer with of the Academy of Medicine Auxiliary, Camp Storer, Camp Courageous, Monroe Street United Methodist Church, Sauder Village and the Toledo Botanical Gardens, among many other activities. In addition to being an outstanding cook and hostess, Carol was an accomplished spinner, weaver and knitter. She helped to initiate the Pioneer Life program at the Toledo Botanical Gardens and frequently took master classes in weaving at the Manning's in Pennsylvania, and fabric arts centers in Vermont. She was an excellent bird hunter, fly fisherwoman and camper, spending many fall holidays hunting in upstate New York, fishing at Rockwell in Ohio and the Slagle Trout Club in Northern Michigan and summer camping at various parks. Carol was always up for an adventure, and traveled most of the world with her husband, children and grandchildren. Carol's greatest accomplishments were as a wonderful wife, outstanding mother, and amazing Nana to her grandchildren. She was a warm hostess, always welcoming one more to her table with open arms. She never judged others and lived by the words she frequently spoke: “It is my privilege to serve you.” It was her family's privilege to have her as our wife, mother and Nana, and we will miss her more than we can say. Friends may visit the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Ave. from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 17 at Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe Street, where the family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carol's memory are asked to be made to Monroe Street United Methodist Church (The Bridge), or Sauder Village.

Carol Jean Roberts

December 13, 1929 - September 11, 2010