Obituary of Ethel Roebuck

Ethel Vogelbach Roebuck Ethel Vogelbach Roebuck (known to all of her family and close friends as Sis or Aunt Sissy), 84 years old, of Youngblood Road, Montgomery, died late Wednesday evening, July 12, 2006, at Valley View Rehabilitation Center in Florida, N.Y., after a short illness. She was born on May 10, 1922 in Kearny, N.J. She was the oldest of four surviving children of Oscar and Eleanor Lindsay Vogelbach. She received her early education in North Arlington, N.J. schools, and finished her last year of high school at Pine Bush before continuing her education at secretarial school. Ethel worked at the Bayonne Naval Base, Camp Kilmer, and J. Arace and Son during World War II. At the end of the war she married Charles R. Roebuck, the love of her life, and they farmed for 25 years in Searsville. In 1973 Ethel went to work for the Orange County Department of Social Services, but of her many careers, she was proudest of being a farmer's wife. In later years she enjoyed her family, travel, reading, playing cards with friends and, most of all her painting. She was affiliated with Hopewell Presbyterian Church and the Middletown Arts Council. Ethel often said that she had a wonderful childhood, a wonderful marriage, and was having a wonderful old age. She was a calm, strong and reassuring presence to her younger brothers and sister, her husband, her children and grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sons, Charles O. Roebuck of Montgomery and David G. Roebuck of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; her daughter-in-law, Ruth Smiley Roebuck and granddaughter, Hannah of Goshen; her granddaughter, Sarah in Chicago, Ill.; her grandson, Andrew in Savannah, Ga.; her sister, Barbara Roebuck of Montgomery; and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles; her brothers, Bob and Ted Vogelbach; and her older sister, Eleanor, who died in childhood. A funeral service will be held at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Thompson Ridge at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 19, 2006, with the Rev. Robin Hogle officiating. Burial will be at the Brick Church Cemetery in Montgomery, N.Y. Memorial contributions can be made in Ethel's name to the charity of one's choice, or the family will accept flowers. Arrangements were made by the William M. Gagan Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Bush. For further information or directions, please visit www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com