Roberta Elaine Coleman Childress of South Charleston, one of the Lord's helpers, went home to heaven Sunday, February 8, 2015. Her loving husband of 47 years, Dr. Ross G. Childress, never left her side throughout her long illness.

Roberta was full of energy. She enjoyed a life filled with the love of family and friends, and she returned love in great measure to her husband, her identical twin sister Elberta, and to all her family and friends, especially her many nieces and nephews. She also loved her work and her community. She was energizing and empowering to many who saw her as a model of caring for others. Deeply committed to family, Roberta was everyone's first call in times of need. She was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Roberta was a 1947 graduate of Dunbar High School where she and Elberta were cheerleaders. Following graduation, she attended Charleston Commercial College and Morris Harvey College. She enjoyed a long career at Union Carbide Corporation and was a Senior Secretary in the Engineering Department when she retired.

Roberta grew up in the Dunbar Evangelical United Brethren Church and was a long-time member of the Charleston Baptist Temple. As a young woman, she was an active volunteer in the Republican Party and was a member of the Dunbar Junior Woman's Club. She also was a member of the Pilot Club of the Kanawha Valley and the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents, L.A. and Myrtie Gillespie Coleman; sisters Celestia Ellis, Josephine Parsons, Helen Smith, Arline Pignato; brothers Howard, Robert and Cecil Coleman; and by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her twin sister, Elberta Jane Coleman Fisher and her husband William W. Fisher of Houston, Texas; her sister-in-law Jean Childress Boone of Toledo, Ohio; and by many nieces and nephews and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

A service to celebrate the life of Roberta Childress will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday February 10, 2015, at Keller Funeral Home, 1236 Myers Avenue, Dunbar, West Virginia 25064 with the Rev Dr. Dennis Johnson and the Rev. Ron Scott officiating. Entombment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park.

Friends may visit the day of the service from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.

On behalf of Roberta and himself, Dr. Childress thanks their nieces and nephews who tirelessly stayed by their side with aid, comfort and prayer. They were, and are, invaluable and are deeply cherished. Special heartfelt thanks, too, to Reverend Ron Scott, Reverend Dr. Dennis Johnson and the staff of HospiceCare for their consummate professionalism and devotion.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., West, Charleston, WV 25387-2536.