The Family of Roberta Rouse is celebrating her 100th Birthday the weekend of April 22-24, 2022. Roberta Underwood Rouse was born April 26, 1922, to Robert E. and Florence Underwood in Geneseo, Illinois. One of six daughters, she and her sister, Frances, were semi-professional tap dancers. Mrs. Rouse is a Mother of 6 children (son Bobby d: 2007), Grandmother of 37, Great-Grandmother of 44, and Great-Great Grandmother of 18.
In 1946, Mrs. Rouse became active working with youth in the community upon moving to Flint, Michigan. She was a member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and Walker Women’s Club while serving as a homeroom mother at Walker and Clark Schools, a Brownie Scout leader, and a Boy Scout den mother. Mrs. Rouse frequently made speeches to dignitaries who came to Flint to view the community school concept.
Roberta Rouse’s late Husband Delmar (d: 1985) affectionately named their 5-acre family farm Greenview Acres, where they raised various livestock and grew produce to sell to a local grocer.
She is a long-standing member of Christ the King Catholic Church. In the past, she sang in the choir (until her early 90s), was a member of the Rosary Altar Society, and was a Vacation Bible School teacher. In addition, she sang in the Flint Catholic Interfaith Gospel Choir.
Mrs. Rouse has lived a life advocating for social justice, continuing the legacy of her ancestors, John Anthony Copeland Jr. (John Brown’s Raid at Harper’s Ferry) and Wilson
Bruce Evans (Underground Railroad operator and a member of The Oberlin-Wellington Rescuers).
