Lillian Roberts

Lillian Cohen Roberts passed away at home on June 30, 2022, while holding her husband's hand. Lillian was born September 27, 1933, in Wewoka, Oklahoma, to Jay and Ruth Rabkin Cohen. Lillian grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and attended Pine Bluff Public Schools. In high school, her love of literature led her to journalism and the high school newspaper, where she served as both reporter and editor. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of the Jewish sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. On June 7, 1953, Lillian married Bernard M. Roberts in Pine Bluff, and they began their journey together through 69 years of marriage. Their journey took them to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Bernard served in the U.S. Air Force and their first child, Michael, was born. Following Bernard's time in the service, the family moved to Nowata, Oklahoma, where Bernard joined his family business, Keystone Pipe & Supply Company. Lillian was an amazing homemaker, seamstress, cook and mother to four very busy children. Over the years, dozens of birthday cakes were created, dance costumes meticulously sewn, football uniforms washed and whitened and innumerable performances, sports games and events were attended. As members of B'nai Emunah Synagogue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lillian and Bernard ensured that all of their children were religiously educated with weekly treks to Tulsa. Lillian's selflessness in ensuring all the needs of her family were met was undeniable. As her children got older, Lillian's brilliant brain needed more, so she joined Bernard in the family business. She ushered their company into the computer age and turned their accounting practices into works of art. If you met Lillian Roberts, you knew you had met a very savvy businesswoman. She and Bernard continued in the business until it was sold in 2016. Lillian is survived and will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Bernard, of Nowata, Oklahoma; her children, David L. Roberts of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Leslie Roberts Miller (Michael) of Mexico, Missouri.; and Jeffrey Roberts of Frederick, Maryland; grandchildren Lauren Miller Gaynor (Andrew) of Omaha, Nebraska; Katherine Roberts Wood (Marc) of Owasso, Oklahoma; Kent Miller (Michelle Abtahi) of Chicago, Illinois; Kyle Roberts (Tiffany) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Steven Roberts of Frederick, Maryland; and Kimberly Roberts of Frederick, Maryland. Lillian's greatest joys in the last two years of her life were her precious great-grandchildren, Cohen James Wood and Georgia Quinn Gaynor. Lillian's dear sister, Dorothye Cohen Abels (Melvyn) of Missouri City, Texas, also survives; along with Lillian's brother-in-law, Henry Katz, of Ada, Oklahoma; and many nieces, nephews, greats-nieces and great-nephews. Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Milton Cohen; her mother- and father-in-law, Myer and Lillian W. Roberts; sisters-in-law Helen Roberts Katz and Ethel Rae Roberts; and her beloved son, Michael Myer Roberts. Graveside Services for Lillian will be at 10 a.m. on July 18, 2022, at the Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Okla. Memorial donations may be made to the Nowata Boys & Girls Club or a charity of the donor's choice. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151

Lillian Roberts

September 27, 1933 - June 30, 2022