Goshen, IN - Roberta Stutzman, 97, died at Greencroft Goshen on June 26.

Roberta was born to be a teacher.

She started teaching Sunday School at an early age and ended her teaching career as principal at Chandler Elementary School in Goshen.

She learned behavior management skills when her mother would say "Roberta, take these kids (six younger siblings) and go outside."

She graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in southern Illinois and started her teacher education at Eastern Illinois University where she was the catcher on the women's softball team.

After her children were born, she finished her bachelor's degree at Goshen College and her master's degree at Ball State University.

She made many trips to Indianapolis advocating for early childhood education to the governor and legislators.

She married Marian Stutzman on June 9, 1951. They divorced in 1985.

Six years later, she surprised everyone when she and Leon Stutzman were married at the end of her retirement party.

She moved to Colorado with Leon and lived there for 25 years. They enjoyed traveling together and she learned to downhill ski.

Ten years ago, she had some health concerns; and they moved to a retirement community in Goshen, to be closer to her children.

Roberta walked fast and worked hard. She always seemed to have the energy for one more task be it at home, church, school or 4-H.

She took it in stride when learned she was having twins a few hours before giving birth to identical twin girls.

She loved fabric and sewed many dresses for her girls.

She was a classy dresser and loved wearing hats.

She liked high places and as a child she was known to run across the beams in her father's barn. She found solitude climbing high in the family's trees.

She always had a word of encouragement, especially for children.

Roberta was preceded in death by her parents Rex and Pearl (Beal) Price; brothers, James (Loretta), Willis (Barbara), Nelson (Joyce) and George (Mary Lee); and sisters, Ruth (Billie) Harrell, Julia (James) Adams, Helen (Edward) Peters and Marie (Gene) Kolb.

She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Kris (Larry) Keil; and an infant daughter, Kay.

She is survived by her husbands; her sister, Jeannette (Gene) Shepard; and her children, Kevin (Gerry) Stutzman, Kerry (Doug) Snell, Kelly (Don) Williams and Keith (Denise) Stutzman; and 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by stepchildren, Rodney (Barbara) Stutzman and Kerry (David Armitage) Stutzman; and seven step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Assembly Mennonite Church, 727 New York Street, Goshen, Indiana 46526.