Roberta Wilson Felt died on Wednesday November 5, at the Bertram House in Swampscott, MA after a lengthy illness. Roberta was born on June 5, 1919, in Oak Park, IL, the daughter of Percival Cain Wilson and Florence Lake Wilson. She graduated from University of Illinois where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and also voted Miss Illinois. In November, 1942, she married Loren Bovard Felt, Esquire and began their family shortly before he left to serve overseas in the United States Army Air Corps. Following his discharge from the service they moved their family to Texas while her husband attended Texas A and M.
They eventually settled on a small farm near Klinger Lake, Michigan where they resided for 35 years. She and her husband opened a riding stable, known as Rolo Ranch, and Roberta was the trail ride leader. Later, they opened Sturgis Motor Sales, where she assisted in the every day operations of the business, while her husband attended law school and later practiced law. Roberta loved Klinger Lake, where she had summered as a child. She loved swimming, horseback riding, breeding dogs and reading.

Roberta and her husband were fun loving and outgoing. They were known for their parties, boats, and cars; at one point they combined the two latter interests and purchased an Amphicar. For several summers, the Felts could be seen floating around the lake in their blue Amphicar, providing amusement for themselves, as well as many lake residents. Roberta was known for her hearty and contagious laugh, which seemed to echo across the lake or throughout the house.

One of her strongest teachings to her family was: Life is not fair, and, sometimes you have to be tough and stand up against the unfairness. She once stood up, alone and pregnant, against a core of Michigan Highway Department workers and stopped them from cutting down large, healthy oak trees which lined the road abutting her farm. Many of these magnificent trees still stand, fifty years later, as a testament to her determination.

Roberta is missed and lovingly survived by her five children, Peggy Lynne D'Iorio of West Palm Beach, FL; Pam Wise of Marblehead, MA; Jay Felt of Sturgis, MI; Carol Regan of Marblehead, MA; Debbie Doe of Sturgis, MI; fourteen grandchildren and two great-grand children. She was pre-deseased by; her parents, PC and Florence; her husband, Loren; her brother Laird Wilson; and her sister Eleanor Wilson. A memorial service will be held at Klinger Lake.

Private funeral services are under the direction of the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to All Care Hospice, 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901 or to The Bertram House Staff Holiday Fund,
The Bertram House of Swampscott, 565 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA 01907. For additional information or online guest book please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.