Roberta Carroll (Harding) Prentice

Roberta "Bobbi" Carroll Prentice was born on February 15, 1943, at Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, the third daughter of Keith and Mildred Dew Harding. She grew up alongside her sisters, Mildred (Dew) and Leonora (Nona), and all three attended Durham High School. Bobbi was an active member of the school's marching band for seven years before continuing her education at Campbell College in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Bobbi's grandmother, Leonora Dew, sponsored all her grand children into the Children of the American Revolution. As a teenager, Bobbi was honored with an invitation to serve as a page at the annual Continental Congress, an experience that sparked a lifelong dedication to various women's organizations. She was highly respected in every group she joined and held leadership positions in many. Her affiliations included the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, United States Daughters of 1812, and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

After college, Bobbi remained in Durham, where she worked at Duke Hospital and cared for her parents. The three of them frequently traveled to Virginia to visit family. Bobbi later married Donald Prentice, and the couple moved several times in search of job opportunities before settling in California. Together, they had two children, Krystil and Keith. Bobbi embraced motherhood wholeheartedly, actively participating in her children's school activities. When Don and Bobbi decided to leave California, Krystil had already married and moved to North Carolina, while Keith chose to stay in California. Don and Bobbi relocated to Battlement Mesa to be near her sister. They both found jobs with the Battlement Mesa School district, where Bobbi was quickly admired and appreciated. Following Don's passing, Bobbi moved to the Village of Country creek in Fruita, Colorado, to be with her sister Nona. She found joy in her community, made many friends, and was deeply loved. Bobbi was also a devoted member of Fruita Methodist Church. Despite facing numerous health challenges, she remained resilient until entering hospice care in 2024. Bobbi passed away on February 12, 2025. Bobbi's name, along with her children's names, will be added to her husband Don's headstone at the Veterans Cemetery. This and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Bobbi was a dedicated genealogist, leaving behind a vast collection she had hoped to send to Virginia. To support the shipment of these genealogy volumes, donations can be made in Bobbi's name to the Mount Garfield chapter NSDAR care of Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way, Grand Junction, Co 81507. Bobbi is survived by her daughter, Krystil (Tony), and a grandson, David; her son, Keith; her sister, Leonora (Corky) Backlund; and six cherished cousins and their families.