Roberts, Helen W.

Helen W. Roberts, 85, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 25, 2007 at Pulaski Health and Rehab with her family by her side. Mrs. Roberts was born in Black Hollow (Road), Va., on January 27, 1922 to the late William Thomas and Alberta Turner Wheeling.

She was a member of Dublin Baptist Church where she was a member of the Martha Rasnake Circle. She was a dedicated employee for 30 years at Radford Arsenal. She was affectionately known to all who knew her a “Fuzz”. To her family she will always be ‘Granny Fuzz”.

She lived in Dublin all her life making her last home in an apartment over the Old Dublin Police Department. There was nothing she loved more than sitting at her kitchen window watching as all of Dublin passed by. She had many friends there and made it a daily ritual to visit the barber at the barber shop adjoining her apartment, walking to nearby Dublin Pharmacy and chatting with the pharmacist about one of her favorite sports, “racing”. She would then venture to Wades hollering at and caring on conversations with many of Dublin’s residence; especially a favorite, the late Bob Dudley. Her walks would take her up Main street in earlier years to visit her mom and then finish with a stop at the Old Dublin Post Office.

In 1996 she had to relocate to Pulaski Retirement Center where she had many friends. She never met a person she didn’t know or didn’t learn to know. She then lived with her son, Pete and his wife for a year. She’s lived at Pulaski Health and Rehab for over two years. It wasn’t the life she had envisioned for herself in her final days but she made many wonderful friends while there, especially the staff. Their care and compassion will always be remembered by her family.

Those who preceded her in death and were waiting to greet her as she entered her Heavenly home were sisters, Ocie W. Stoots, Margaret W. Oswalt, Ruth W. Meredith and Shirley W. Reves; brothers, John R. Wheeling and James W. (Junior) Wheeling, and also her first husband, William W. (Buster) Childress.

Leaving behind to cherish her memory are, sons and daughter-in-law, Walter L. (Bill) and Judy Y. Childress, Richmond, William T. (Pete) and Brenda H. Childress, Pulaski; daughter, Elizabeth C. (Susie) Weikel, Dublin; seven grandchildren, William W. (Billy) Childress, Richmond, John Weikel, Dublin, Scott Weikel, Max Meadows, Hope W. Shomaker, Pearisburg, Kelly C., Seal, Richmond, April C. Childress, Pulaski, James D. (Dusty) Childress, Pulaski, ; 11 great-grandchildren, Audrey W. Tonder, Jefferson City, Mo., Ryan Weikel, Dublin, Cody Weikel, Pulaski, Bryce Nester, Pearisburg, Zachary, Hannah and Carly Childress, Richmond, Taylor Seal and Hunter, Richmond, Lane Whitesell and Alexis Bowyer, Pulaski; one great great-granddaughter, Virginia Diane Weikel, Mo.; sisters, Mrs. Sarah (Perky) McCoy, King, N.C., Alma Cockran, Kernersville, N.C.; sister and brother-in-law, Mrs. Barbara (Bobbi) and Buddy Stoots, Lynchburg; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Thelma Wheeling, Lynchburg, Edward and Linda Wheeling, Roanoke; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Wheeling, Dublin, Joan Wheeling, Marysville, Washington; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; two special friends, Mrs. John Weikel, Jr. (Donna), and John Weikel, Sr., along with many others.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Dusty Childress, Scott Weikel, Ryan Weikel and nephews, Dave Wheeling, Alan Wheeling and Steve Meredith. A special honorary pallbearer, her first grandchild, John E. Weikel, Jr. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 2 p.m. from the Dublin Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny Howlett officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin. Visiting will be Tuesday evening at Stevens Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m.

Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, Va.