Margaret Roberts

Margaret Ellen Foster Roberts, 82, died at Southeast Missouri Hospital Feb. 3, 2004.

She was born in the family home in Cape Girardeau Aug. 26, 1921, daughter of Martha Ellen McQueen and Franklin Pierce Foster Sr. She grew up in Cape Girardeau attending Franklin Grade School and graduated from Central High School. After attending Southeast Missouri State University, she graduated from Miss Steimle's Business College.

She married Ben H. Roberts May 8, 1942, at the family home. They lived in several cities throughout the south, settling in Memphis, Tenn., where she had a 28-year career as real estate transaction specialist for the Eighth District of Tennessee in the United States Postal Service.

As a businesswoman she was a member of Memphis Zonta Club, Beethoven Society, and taught a Sunday class to young nurses at First Baptist Church of Memphis.

After retirement she moved with her husband to Jackson, where they lived several years. There she was once more active at Jackson First Baptist Church, Chapter D.J. P.E.O., and became an active volunteer at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was an association member and a member of Southeast Hospital Auxiliary and served several offices.

In 1999 she and her husband moved to Chateau Girardeau and she continued to serve the auxiliary in many ways and was honored by both the hospital and auxiliary with a scholarship which was named in her honor in 2003. Southeast Hospital was her real love and she continued to work by phone until almost the end of her life.

She is survived by her husband; a brother, Norbert Theodore Foster; two sisters, Harriet McQueen Foster Freeman, Martha Lou Foster McGinty and husband Charles P. McGinty, all of Cape Girardeau, and many loving nephews and nieces.

Her parents; a sister, Allene Clarissa Foster Cobble; and two brothers, Franklin Pierce Foster Jr. and Glen Alfred Foster, preceded her in death.

Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the visitation and service.

Visitation will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Carter Frey officiating. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Chuck McGinty, Charles and Samuel McGinty, Frank McGinty, Foster McGinty, Ted Yates, Pierce Yates, Charles Walden Richey, P.J. Courter and Greg Deimund.

The family requests memorials be made to Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Endowment Fund.