Roberta C. Marsh, 79, died on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Lutheran Care Center in Poughkeepsie.
Roberta Marsh, or Bobbie, as she was known to everyone who knew her, was the eldest of three daughters born to Marion and Samuel Collins. From an early age Bobbie displayed the love of nature, and animals, which became her hallmark. Anyone who spoke to her—for even a few minutes—heard about Dodie and Jodie, the twin fawns that she hand-raised; and, how she was called “Bobbie Nature” when she worked as a counselor at the Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Reservation camp, where she lived as a child; and, which was, in large part built by her father.
Among Bobbie’s many accomplishments, she graduated with a Bachelors degree in Biology from SUNY New Paltz. She traveled across the country—all the way to Washington state—in her baby blue Jeep, sleeping under the stars along the way; and…she owned and rode her own motorcycle. She was way ahead of her time.
Bobbie taught in the Wappingers School District for over thirty years, retiring in 1993. She was known as a tough, but fair, teacher who rewarded her students for reading books by taking them on field trips hiking up Mount Beacon or Breakneck Mountain; and, for rides on the Day Liner.
She married her husband, George Marsh, after he successfully courted her by carrying a china cabinet, on his back, up the hill to her house—in a snow storm. They were married until his death in 1995.
Family was very important to Bobbie. She never forgot to send a card or gift to any of her nieces or nephews on their birthdays—no matter how old they got. She was the glue that kept the far-flung members of her family together. She cared for her parents, and husband, in their final illnesses with patience and love.
Bobbie was pre-deceased by her parents, Samuel and Marion Collins; her aunt Jean Lobsenz and her beloved Uncle Herbert Lobsenz, MD; her husband, George; her cousin, John Lobsenz; and, her sister, Patricia (Pat). She is survived by her sister, Nancy (Collins) Toney; her nieces and nephews Dawn, Susie, CJ, Lee, Cindy, Jill, Peter and Amy; and many great nieces and nephews; and her cousin Johnny Lobsenz’s daughters, including her beloved Paula.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6 at the First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon. Interment will follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), 54 Simmons Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 (www.arfbeacon.org) or the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY 12508 (www.clearwater.org), or to your house of worship.
Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. For online tributes, you can visit Bobbie’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.