Roberta Lee Carlton Heller, better known as "Bobbie," was born on June 8, 1922, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Percy Stinson Carlton and Audrie Blandford Crosbie. She lived in Minnesota – mostly Bemidji – until she went to Grinnell College in Iowa. She spent two years there before transferring to the University of Minnesota, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education. She volunteered many hours in the Minneapolis Hospital while at U of M.

During her sophomore year in college, Bobbie and all of her friends were in their women's dormitory when one of the girls got a call from her boyfriend. He was calling from Hawaii to tell them about the attack on Pearl Harbor. They knew about what had happened before it hit the national news. Then, everything changed and young men were all in the service. Bobbie's then-fiancée, Ted Heller, went into the service in 1943 and served in North Africa in the U. S. Army Air Corps. Bobbie worked as a telephone operator during the war.

Bobbie married Ted on June 29, 1945, soon after he returned from the war having served as a troop-carrier pilot. Together they had four children: Mary Heller Thyen (deceased), Bill Heller; Susie Heller Thompson; and Todd Heller. Their children and grandchildren made many wonderful memories with Bobbie ("Grandmother") and Ted ("Papa") at their West Lakes cottage near Hawkins, TX. There they fished, boated, had run-ins with alligators and drove golf carts between good meals and dice games. Bobbie and Ted were married for 48 years before divorcing.

In 1979, Bobbie became a Realtor for Ebby Halliday in Dallas and still had many friends from those years who had been colleagues and clients. She was in the Diamond Circle several years during the 80's, which meant she was million-dollar producer.

Bobbie moved to Fredericksburg in 2000 and was very active in many aspects of this wonderful community. Upon arrival, she became a member of the Hill Country Memorial Hospital Women's Auxiliary and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, where she served on the Altar Guild starting in 2000 and became a Daughter of the King in 2009. In 2004, she was a member of the Leadership Gillespie County class. She served on the HCMH Foundation Board since 2009. In 2012 she was named Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year. More recently, she was an active member of the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. She had been a member of FUMC's Choose Life Sunday School Class since 2012. Bobbie was a member of the Fredericksburg Antiques Club where she was treasurer for many years. She enjoyed playing bridge and mah jongg with several groups of ladies on a regular basis until last week.

For more than 10 years, Bobbie enjoyed the companionship of John Loyd, 93, of Kerrville. They traveled together and loved each other's families.

An avid reader, Bobbie was intently interested in politics. She loved to bake, knit, entertain and sip white wine at night. She adored her "street dog" Bitsy and her late dogs Patches and Sassy. She was proud to vote one last time in the current election. She began a great family Christmas tradition by hand-knitting each family member's name into a red, green and white stocking that would be filled with goodies every year. Her family has come to love this tradition, and she will live on for generations.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her brother, Dick Carlton; her daughter, Mary Ann Thyen; her son-in-law, Randy Thompson; and her grandson, Dax Heller.

She is survived by her daughter, Susie Thompson of Fredericksburg; sons Bill Heller (wife Sharon) of Palisade, Colorado; and Todd Heller (wife Kathy) of Waco, Texas; son-in-law Tony Thyen (wife Norma Sue) of Georgetown; and 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and a tremendous host of friends.

Bobbie passed away at about 2:15 a.m. on November 4 at Hill Country Memorial Hospital after suffering a fall followed by hip replacement surgery over the span of three days. She "died with her boots on," as was her wish.

There will be a celebration of Bobbie's remarkable 96-year life at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano St., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. Inurnment of her ashes will follow at the FUMC Memorial Garden and Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bobbie's memory to the Hill Country Memorial Hospital Foundation or to the FUMC Memorial Fund.