A Christian Celebration of Life service honoring Roberta Lee Pryor (Danford) will be held at First United Methodist Church, 88 North 5th St., Newark, 11 A.M., Saturday, January 25, 2014, with Pastors Rich Clark and Steve Rath presiding. Immediately following the service, the family will host a luncheon, continuing the celebration of Roberta's life, at the Moundbuilders Country Club, 125 North 33rd St., Newark.

Roberta passed away on January 21, 2014, with her loving family by her side at home. For the past several years she had valiantly battled complications from Sjögren's Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood infections associated with knee surgery.

Born to the late Arza and Mary (Robinson) Danford on April 14, 1938, Roberta was a lifelong resident of Newark and attended Woodside Elementary and Roosevelt Junior High; she graduated from Newark High School in 1956. Roberta received the Newark Hospital Medical Auxiliary (Doctor's Wives) Scholarship to attend nursing school and graduated in 1959 with a Nursing Degree from the former White Cross School of Nursing, which became Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Upon graduation, Roberta returned to Newark and worked at the Old Newark Hospital on Everett Avenue for two years in Labor and Delivery. In those days, there were no full-time based Resident Doctors at the hospital, and Roberta commented with pride, "I may have delivered as many babies as the Doctors".

Roberta worked in labor and delivery until her marriage to Fred Pryor on June 7, 1961, at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the first couple married that year under the arched/presentation of swords. Fred was Roberta's high school sweetheart and they met when Roberta was a senior and Fred was a junior in the spring of '56. Roberta and Fred spent 3 years in the military life, making stops at Fort Knox, KY (Armored basics school), Fort Benning, GA (Airborne/Ranger School), and Fort Hood, TX (assigned to Korea). While waiting for Fred's return from Korea, Roberta returned to Newark to work at the OB/GYN practice of Dr. Sperry and Dr. Zolo. Once the tour in Korea was over, they decided against "career military" and they set their roots in Small-town USA...Newark, OH.....their hometown.

Roberta loved the outdoors and was an accomplished snow skier, fisherman and deer hunter. She also loved her Yazoo lawnmower, later replaced in her affections by the John Deere mower that Fred bought for her. Roberta enjoyed traveling with Fred and dear friends to her beloved Nags Heads, NC, and the numerous places that Fred's fluid power distributor business afforded them over the years via various conventions. From Boca Raton in 1975 to the late 1990's when they sailed with friends in French Polynesia, Roberta and Fred were fortunate enough to have been healthy and together at all of them.

Roberta was a great spouse, mother and homemaker to her family and had a great sense of humor which came in handy while raising her twins. She also had a great love of music and was a member of the First United Methodist Church choir for over 40 years.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years marriage, James Frederick Pryor of Newark, OH; son, Todd Pryor (spouse Tiffany & daughter Tatum); and daughter Holly Lantz (spouse Steve & daughter Morgan).

Friends and Family may call from 4-7 P.M., Friday, January 24, 2014 at the REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Dr., Newark.

The family offers their heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary team of caregivers that has taken care of Roberta the last two years and the pastors at First United Methodist Church who have ministered to the family over the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Newark High Athletic Boosters Association, 314 Granville Rd, Newark Ohio, 43055.

To share your memory of Roberta or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com.