Roberta Jean (Legg) Bennett

Roberta Jean Bennett passed from this life on Tuesday, January 10 at the age of 97 at Medical Park West Rehabilitation and Skilled Care in Norman, Oklahoma surrounded by family.  She was born in Newton County, Indiana on November 26, 1925, to Viola and Walter Legg.  Roberta and her older sister, Juanita were raised by Viola after their father died, living in Indiana, Texas and Oklahoma where the family settled in Sapulpa.  It was at Sapulpa High School that Roberta met Orval Bennett, the love of her life, and the only boy she ever dated.  They married not long after in Shreveport, Louisiana, just before Orval was to report for duty in the U.S. Army, where he would later become a tail gunner in the Army Air Force, flying missions in Europe.

After the war ended, Orval returned to Oklahoma and the couple eventually made their home in Tulsa where they raised two children, their daughter, Barbara, and son, Stephen.  Roberta, who had done clerical work in the oil and gas business, later became a keypunch operator at OTASCO, working there until the business finally closed in the late 1980s and she retired.  She loved making her home and yard beautiful, and sitting on her deck, enjoying the birds and flowers.

Roberta loved her children dearly, and was a doting grandmother to her four grandchildren, including Brianna Dowdy, and Christopher, Laura and Rachel Bennett They were her pride and joy, and she repeated her love of her children and grandchildren many times in her final days.  She also loved her fur babies, including many dogs over the years and at least one stray kitten she rescued and raised.

Roberta was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Viola Legg, her husband, Orval, her sister, Juanita and brother-in-law, Johnny Keifer and nephew, Leslie Keifer.  She is survived by daughter, Barbara and son-in-law, Robert Dowdy, son Stephen and daughter-in-law, Malia Bennett, granddaughter, Brianna and husband, Ryan Thomas, grandson Christopher and daughter-in-law Chelsea Sellars-Bennett, granddaughter Laura Bennett and husband Dao Thong Lim, and granddaughter Rachel Bennett, as well as nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on February 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa, OK.

Arrangements are under the direction of OK Cremation & Funeral Home, Oklahoma City.