Roberta Elta Noble

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Lena, Ill. - Roberta (Bobbie) Elta Delzell, 77, came into this world to her parents, Robert and Clotine (Cookie McLain) Noble, in Lena, on Aug. 9, 1934, and passed away from lung cancer on June 15, 2012.
Bobbie is survived by: her very special friend and companion, Harold Zarn of Lena/Stockton; four children, Charmaine (John) Shippy-Magee of Lena, Robert Shippy of Germany, Donald Shippy of San Antonio, Texas, and Angela Delzell-Noble-Van Horn of St. Louis, Mo.; two step-children, Julie (Ken) Delzell-Hocraffer of Freeport and Jill (David) Wubbena of Baileyville; grandchildren, Michelle (Robert) Hancock-Polizzi, Dennis (Candy) Hancock, Jr., Augustina (Matt) Burrows, Robin Shippy, Justin Shippy, Latasha (Brandon) Snow, Hally Laflamme (Ed Basinski), Samara (Roger) Warman, and Thomas VanHorn; step-grandchildren, Brandon and Tyler Hocraffer, Rebecca (Scott) Hayes, and Dan (Kristi) Magee; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Raymer of East Jordan, Mich.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Orpha Lea (Earl) Delzell-Koester of Statesville, N.C., Nettie Sheppard of Bloomington, Glen Shippy of Pensacola, Fla., Shirley (Lynn) Shippy-Kuhse of McConnell, and Dorothy Noble of Polo; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and cousins and friends too numerous to count.
Preceding her in death were: husband, Donald Delzell; parents Robert and Clotine Noble; brother/sister-in-law, William and Tokiko (Tony) Noble; granddaughter, Sara Shippy; two great-grandchildren; step-daughter, Jolene Delzell; step-grandson, Jeremiah Magee; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.
Bobbie worked for Noble Electric and Hardware, the business her parents started on their front porch in Lena. After Bobbie married Gail Shippy, she went to work as a secretary at Micro Switch. A career path change was provided and she became manager and bookkeeper for Fred Smith handling the Smith Building and other Smith businesses in Freeport.
Bobbie worked for Larry Peck Accounting and then for Lindgren, Callahan, Weaver & Van Osdohl Accounting firm. Bobbie came full circle and became bookkeeper and all around hardware employee for Noble Electric & Hardware under the ownership of her brother, Bill.
When the business was sold, she went to work at Osco Drug on South Street in Freeport in the Camera/Liquor Department. With her knowledge and abilities, she became the Supervisor of the Camera Department, which grew under her capable hands.
Bobbie retired, but not for long. The Osco Drug on Park/Galena Avenue in Freeport called and asked her to come out of retirement and manage their Camera Department. Under her leadership, the Camera Department flourished. Due to health issues, she left a job and people/customers/friends that she cared for on a deep and personal level.
Bobbie took on another important job, watching two of her great-grandchildren. That was the ultimate job and the one she loved the most. Bobbie enjoyed the clubs she belonged to and was an officer during times of her membership. Bobbie belonged to the Ladies of the Moose Lodge in Freeport and belonged to the Lamplighters Chapter of the ABWA and was a past president of the chapter and their Woman of the Year. She belonged to the Freeport FOE Eagles Auxiliary of which she was the Secretary until the cancer made it impossible for her to continue doing something she loved and working with people she cared for deeply. She belonged to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lena.
Bobbie loved people, dancing, gardening, canning, crocheting, and bead work. Bobbie was the "go to person" for help or advice. Bobbie took great pride in her shopping expeditions with Charmaine. It was understood they did not come home until the car was filled with new purchases.
The most important part of her life was her family. You could see the light in her heart go into overload when she talked about her family and Harold. As the cliché goes, "the sun rose and set" on her family. Though the sun has now set for her, she will be missed by everyone that she came into contact with as she has taken God's hand and is at peace.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 22, at Leamon Funeral Home.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Leamon's Funeral Home in Lena, with burial at Lena Burial Park.
A memorial fund has been established for Eagle's Aux Scholarship and FHN Hospice/ Volunteers.