Obituary of Patricia "Patty" Dickey Roberds

Patricia Kaye Roberds passed away October 29, 2015 in Tulsa after a brief, but serious illness. Patty was born in Tulsa September 18, 1949 to H. G. Bill and Onetta Dickey. She grew up in Tulsa attending Central High School where she danced in The Daze and graduated in 1967. She attended college for two years at the University of Oklahoma. In 1969 she married John Roberds and they lived in Tulsa while he attended the University of Tulsa. In 1972 they moved to Columbia Missouri where John went to graduate school. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1974 and started their family. Son Sanford was born in 1975 and Brian in 1978. In 1980 the family moved to Richardson, Texas where son James was born in 1981. Shortly after Jim’s birth the family moved to Berkeley Heights, New Jersey to live when John took a job in New York City. In 1987 the family returned to Tulsa and Patty became active as a parent and volunteer at Holland Hall School where she was literally the soccer mom for the high school soccer team and many other of her sons classmates. Her involvement with Holland Hall was rekindled when her grandchildren started there as she renewed relationships with teachers she knew and met new ones. The opportunity to participate in her grandchildren’s lives brought her great joy and satisfaction. Patty’s life included many activities with her family and friends, the most important of which was as a longtime member of the Ladies Adult Tap class at Miss Shelly’s School of Dance. In addition to dancing she helped Miss Shelly conduct the classes, ran the Saturday extra practice class, helped manage the annual recital with the help of her granddaughter, Lauren, and with her considerable tap dancing talent and skill helped many new students by teaching the basics of tap dancing. Miss Shelly’s School also provided Patty with many dear friends who added much joy and happiness to her life and she cherished those relationships. Patty is survived by: her husband, John; son, Sanford Roberds and wife, Melissa; son, Brian Roberds and wife, Staci; and son, James Roberds and wife, Brett. She is also survived by her sisters, Jeannie Kelsay, and Linda Hilsabeck and husband Mike; her sisters-in-law, Janine Lehman and husband John, as well as Judy Roberds; nieces and nephews, Zach Kelsay, Max Kelsay, Seth Hilsabeck, Natalie Hilsabeck, Alex Hilsabeck, Jenny Friend, and Jack Lehman; and grandchildren, Lauren, John, Jack, Patrick, and one more on the way in January. Service will be held at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 3500 South Peoria, at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, with graveside service following at Memorial Park. A viewing is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Ninde Funeral Home, 3841 S. Peoria; 918-742-5556. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Miss Shelly’s School of Dance Special Needs Class in care of Morgan Stanley, 2200 S. Utica Place, 74114. Ninde Brookside - www.ninde.com