Roberta K. Means

CHANDLER – Roberta Means, 94, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed peacefully away August 24, 2023 in Chandler, AZ.

She was born to Walter C. Asman & Marie (Cowgill) Asman on September 29, 1928 in Marysville, Ohio. She was a child of the Great Depression and the last surviving member of her generation on both sides of the family.

Roberta graduated from Marysville High School in the spring of 1946. She began her own family life and 67 year marriage to Franklin Means on September 12, 1948. In 1950, their first son, Michael was born followed by their second son, Timothy in 1953. Shortly after their marriage, they moved from Marysville to Cleveland where Frank studied at the Cleveland Academy of Mortuary Science and she worked in retail at a large department store, Hallie’s.

Once Frank’s studies were complete, they moved to Columbus, Ohio. Soon their first son was born and Roberta assumed the role of stay at home mom and homemaker. She loved cooking and excelled at preparing family holiday meals. Since at that time they lived at a funeral home, the decision was made in 1951 that a funeral home was not where they wanted to raise their family so in 1951, they purchased a 50% interest in a meat packing business in Delaware, Ohio where Frank worked and Roberta continued her role as a homemaker. In 1963 they purchased a down and out country road house/bar and turned it into a destination restaurant, the western themed “Branding Iron Restaurant”. Roberta worked in all aspects of the restaurant from cooking to hostess. After selling the restaurant and moving to Arizona in 1969, she worked at The Broadway department store in Scottsdale.

Roberta & Frank did love to travel! In 1966, they took their 2 sons on a three week road trip to California, making a big circle across the middle of the country to San Francisco, down to LA (where they visited Frank’s sister & family), over to Las Vegas and then down to El Paso (where they visited Roberta’s sister & family). Proceeding on across Texas to New Orleans and back up to Ohio. There would be many more road trips, to Washington DC, Michigan, Florida and Canada to name a few. Once they discovered cruising, however, it was off to see the world. 27 cruises later, they had seen the Amazon in Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, most of the Caribbean, Europe, Russia, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, the Mexican Riviera, fall colors on the St Lawrence Seaway and much more.

In 1971 Roberta & Frank joined the nearly new King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe where they were members for many years. They have seen and helped their church grow from humble beginnings to a 3000+ membership today. Roberta is survived by her sons Michael (Sherry), Timothy (Diane), grandchildren, Ginger (John), Ryan (Meaghan) and Alexander and great grandchildren Ayden and Lucy.

In 1980, she had his first grandchild, Ginger, to spoil. That was followed by grandsons Ryan in 1987 and Alexander in 1988. From that first day in 1980, she was a devoted and loving grandma. Her joy was compounded when he welcomed her great grandson, Ayden, in 2011 and great granddaughter, Lucy, in 2013.

If one were to sum up Roberta’s life in one phrase, it would be “family first”. She nurtured, taught, led by example, loved and lived for her family.

Services for Roberta will occur on Thursday, September 14 starting with visitation from 9-11 AM, followed by her funeral service at 11 AM, all at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery - 401 N Hayden Rd. Scottsdale, Arizona 85257. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.greenacresmortuary.net.