Roberta Elizabeth Elkins
Marriages
E.S. Ross
Marvin Elkins - 1969
Obituaries
Steamboat Pilot and Today - July 16, 2017
Roberta Elizabeth Elkins, who was married to Steamboat native, Marvin Elkins, passed away in Steamboat Springs October 5, 2017 at the age of 90. Roberta was born March 28, 1927 in Colorado Springs. Her parents were Loren and Dorothea Davis Chamberlain. She spent her early years in the Victor and Cripple Creek mining towns where her grandparents had a ranch and often were visited by Ute Indians passing through. Her great uncle, Bob Womack, was the one who discovered gold in Cripple Creek. She counted among her pioneering relatives Daniel Boone. Her neighbor in Cripple Creek was Lowell Thomas, famous newscaster and writer. Her father worked several mines in the area.
Roberta graduated from high school in Colorado Springs. During the summers she often came to Steamboat to help her aunt, Katherine Harwig at her Harwig’s Saddlery store (today it is a restaurant by that name). While her uncle, C.W. ‘Bill’ Davis was in the U.S. Navy fighting in World War II (he had three ships sunk out from under him), he never failed to write to his niece and send her souvenirs from the ports he visited. Upon graduation, she in turn, worked at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, during the war. She married E.S. Ross, a soldier in the 10th Mountain Division and construction worker by trade. During construction moves, she worked at Yampa Valley Electric for several years as well as living in California and Nevada. After her husband passed away, she returned to Steamboat where she resumed work at YVEA.
She married Marvin Elkins in 1969, also a former 10th Mountain Division soldier. They spent 26 very special years together. She joined him in fishing and hunting, in entertaining several Colorado governors and other officials in their home, and in some travelling together. They spent much time at their home at Lake Powell where she excelled, not only in catching the fish, but in serving delicious fish dinners to their many guests. They spent many of their winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Roberta was a pilot and they loved to fly to these destinations as often as they could.
In addition to being an outstanding wife to Marvin and taking excellent care of him in his later years, Roberta, an angel on loan from Heaven, showed incredible kindness and compassion to all. She displayed these qualities to her half sister, Lorna Woolever of Texas, to Marvin’s former wife’s mother, Myrtle ‘Mimi’ Smith, and to her four stepchildren, Gayle Heins (deceased) and the three who survive her, Vicky Dodson of California, Marveen Coggins of Alaska, and Steve Elkins of Steamboat and to her grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
To honor the memory of this gentle and special Colorado native, a memorial service will be held at the Steamboat Community Center (located west of town by the bus transit center) this Sunday, July 22nd, from 1 P.M. until 3 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Alzheimers Association or a favorite charity of your choice.
