Mom, Grandma, Boo, Grambo, The General, Bertie, Roberta. These are the colorful endearments that attempt to match the vibrancy of Roberta Reid Goodman. But how can you possibly try to pin down a force of nature? Roberta Reid Goodman was born on June 21, 1928 in Union City, Indiana to Dr. Robert W. Reid and Lena Mae (Dye) Reid. She had one brother, Robert W. Reid II and her dear horse Skipper. In 1950, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education and Administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Roberta was a RN at Elkhart General Hospital, Purdue University Hospital and a hospital in West Lafayette, IN. She loved working with the college athletes. She always wanted to be a Physical Education teacher, not a nurse.
She met her husband, Robert (Bob) Goodman on a blind date while she attended Ball State University and Bob attended Purdue University. 69 years of marriage later, you can see that our friends know us better than we know ourselves. Roberta and Bob were married on June 1, 1952 in Union City, Indiana. While Bob was attending Purdue, he was hired by Hughes Aircraft. In 1955 he transferred to Madison, WI where son William (Bill) was born. After Bob received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue, Hughes Aircraft transferred him to California. Daughter Karen was born in Inglewood in 1958. While living in Palos Verdes Peninsula, daughters Kathleen Adare and Kristen were born in 1964 and 1966 respectively.
In the summer of 1971, Roberta and Bob, four children (one with a broken foot) and a dog Daisy (with a broken leg) moved to Camarillo, CA where they have remained now for 50 years.
Roberta worked at Barron’s Fabrics in Camarillo where she loved wheeling and dealing with the fabric and notions salesmen. She was also a highly talented seamstress. She created her daughters’ beautiful prom dresses and her daughters’ first professional work wardrobes.
Starting in her 50’s and all the way to her early 90’s, Roberta explored her interests in gardening, particularly her roses, travel and Southwest culture. She loved genealogy, maps, planning trips and photography. She loved mountain biking along the Ventura coast and Sycamore Canyon, biking the Utah slick rocks, riding and sightseeing California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Vermont. Intensely proud of her Scottish roots, she researched family history and celebrated annually the Ventura Highland Games. She became a grandmother and cherished her time in Colorado with her granddaughter. In California she delighted in her twin grandsons coming for weeklong visits to do crafting and play.
Roberta never lost her athleticism, sharp mind, wit, and sense of humor. She loved her family and her church. She truly was a force of nature who will remain imprinted on her family and friends. She is survived by her husband Robert D. Goodman, her son William Goodman, daughters Karen Goodman (Norman DuFort), Kathleen Adare OConnor, Kristen Stott (John Stott), granddaughters Jhona Pistoresi, Avary Tomford and Alicia Erickson, grandsons Brandon Carlton, Alexander and Nathanial Stott, and great grandchildren Paisley Tomford, Luca Pistoresi, Hannae and Alexandria Stott.
Services for Roberta will take place on Monday, June 14, 2021, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1201 Paseo Camarillo, CA 93010. Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM in the relief society room, and the funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, in Camarillo.