Martha H. Roberts

March 21, 1939 - October 13, 2020

Martha Roberts, age 81, of Rose Hill, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at the MHP Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was born on March 21, 1939 the daughter of Leroy and Anna (Van Polen) Harris. She attended the Oskaloosa High School and graduated with the Class of 1957. She later earned her nursing certificate. On January 2, 1970, she was united in marriage to Raymond E. Roberts in Oskaloosa. They shared 40 years of marriage together until Raymond passed away on October 11, 2010. Martha and Raymond owned and operated the Maid-Rite in Oskaloosa in 1980 for a time. She also worked as a C.N.A. in various places including Colorado Springs, Colorado and Texarkana, Arkansas. They later moved back to Iowa and she worked for the Mahaska Hospital until retiring at the age of 62. Martha was very generous with her time. In the last five years she did community service with United Way and helped serve meals at the summer lunch program in Rose Hill and afterschool programs with the New Hope Organization. She attended the Rose Hill Community Church and hosted coffee times for the Friends and Neighbors group in Rose Hill. Martha always help coordinate the Van Polen family reunions and never missed a family gathering. She enjoyed visiting and having coffee with her friend Jeanetta Almond, fishing, working in her flower and vegetable garden and watching old Westerns. Martha especially enjoyed the holidays and had a special love for her pets. She will be remembered for her kind, positive outlook on life and her favorite slogan, “We’ve got things to do and places to go.” Her family includes her cousins; Mary (Van Polen) Garr of Fremont, Janet Martin of Rose Hill, John Van Polen, Fremont, Wilda Collister, Oskaloosa, Karen Christophel, Oskaloosa, June (Van Polen) Staab, Flint, Texas, Jim Van Polen, Bussey, Lorraine Beyers, Jerry Van Polen, Rose Hill, Donna Van Polen, Westmont, Illinois, Robert Van Polen, Bussey. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; her parents, Larry and Anna Harris; cousins Maizy Van Polen, Bob Van Polen, and Junior Van Polen. As was Martha's wish, her body has been cremated and a graveside service will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. in the Friends Cemetery in Oskaloosa with Pastor Mike Sinnett officiating. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. According to the rules put in place by the Iowa Department of Public Health, proper social distancing and reasonable personal protective equipment is advised for attending a religious public event. The family request’s no flowers please. Memorials may be made to the Martha Roberts memorial fund and sent to the Bates Funeral Chapel at 114 South 7th Street, Oskaloosa, IA 52577.