| | Grace E. Roberts 
HAINES CITY -- Mrs. Grace E. Roberts' career with the Polk County School District started shortly after World War II ended and spanned 35 years.
"At one time, she had all of the Polk County area school cafeterias when the School District was smaller," her granddaughter, Blake Keen Kimbrel of Haines City, said. "I can remember her sitting down and planning the entire menus for the whole year for all the schools in Polk County."
Mrs. Roberts, a retired lunchroom manager and supervisor for the Polk County School Board, died of kidney failure Sunday (Feb. 12, 2006) in Winter Haven. She was 87.
Born in White Springs on Nov. 1, 1918, she grew up in the Wauchula and Ona area where she met her future husband, Earl Roberts. The couple married and moved to Bartow where they had their only child. In 1939, they moved to Haines City. Mr. Roberts died in the mid 1970s.
Mrs. Roberts' career started at Eastside Elementary School in Haines City where she was hired as a lunchroom manager. She served in several managerial positions before retiring from Haines City High School as cafeteria manager in 1982.
"They used to have conventions nationwide of lunchroom ladies and she always put together the best trips for the girls down here to go," Keen Kimbrel said. "Once a month or so, a lot of the ladies still get together and do a little luncheon themselves."
Mrs. Roberts was a longtime Pink Lady for Haines City Hospital.
"She volunteered long enough that when she had to stop, they made her a lifetime member," said her daughter, Earlene Keen of Haines City. "She gave all of her time to her family, community and her work."
She was a 57-year member of Sharon Primitive Baptist Church in Haines City where she was said to be the oldest member.
In addition to her daughter, Earlene Keen, Mrs. Roberts is survived by her brother, Vernoy Walker, El Paso, Texas; sisters, Anna Martha Walker, Jacksonville, and Ethel Mae Rogers, Chattahoochee; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 Grace Ave., Haines City. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Haines City.
Memorials may be made to Sharon Primitive Baptist Church, P.O. Box 452, Haines City, 33845. By Rhonda Gentle
The Ledger
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