Roberta Alstyne

Roberta K. Van Alstyne, 94, of San Antonio, formerly of Kerrville, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2006 at care facility in San Antonio.Mrs. Van Alstyne was born December 10, 1911 in Auburn, Washington, the daughter of Mr. Mrs. Charles A. Gibson. At age two, she moved to Yakima, Washington as her father opened a business and later a cattle ranch. She graduated from high school in Yakima and graduated from Washington State Teachers College. She taught school until her marriage in 1934 to Pierce J. Van Alstyne a civil engineer .They lived in Wapato, Washington Reno, Nevada Spokane, Washington and from 1936 until 1972 in Billings, Montana. In retirement, they lived in Harlingen, Texas and Kerrville, Texas where Pierce died in 1984. Roberta loved to travel she made 2 round the world trips and was a life member of The Travelers Century Club having visited well over 175 countries. She was a member of the Daughters of the Nile where she served as Queen, a Rainbow Girls Mother, and Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron while living in Billings, Montana. She and her husband were members of the Billings Saddle Club and numerous other organizations in the Billings area. She was also active in Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile in Kerrville, and loved both organizations dearly. While living in Harlingen she took tours into Mexico and attended a university in Mexico to learn the culture and language. She lived in San Antonio at the Madison Estates and had recently moved to Stone Oak Care Center prior to her death. She is survived by a son, Gibson of New Orleans, Louisiana two grandchildren, James of Las Vegas, Nevada and Susan of Fairfax, Virginia and two great grandchildren, Patrick and Kevin. A private graveside service is planned at Fort Sam Houston where she will be interred with her husband. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Soaring Eagle, P.O. Box 879, Billings, Montana 591030879, a charity helping elderly Montana Indians.

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