- Roberne Wilson Foran of Amarillo died Monday, Nov. 6, 2006.Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Westminster Presbyterian Churchwith the Rev. Jeff Conway and the Rev. Marty Loberg officiating. Privatefamily burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S.Georgia St.Roberne Wilson Foran was born in Amarillo to Robert and Viola Wilson. Onegrandfather, John Frank Wilson, was the first sheriff of Armstrong County. Herother grandfather, John Hugh Wilson, studied dentistry at Johns HopkinsUniversity and served as an early-day dentist in Quanah, where Quanah Parker,the last Comanche chief was one of his patients.Roberne attended Amarillo High School, Amarillo College, Gardner School in NewYork City, West Texas A&M University and the University of Colorado. While inNew York, she studied with master teachers Alberto Jonas (piano) and FranzProschowski (voice). Her mother, Viola Wilson, was a unique teacher whosepupils appeared with a symphony orchestra, sang in operas and gave soloconcerts. When her sister Wendene was 13 and she was 11, they sang the leadsin "Hanzel and Gretel" with a cast of young people. Her mother transposed atsight the complete score to a lower key to accommodate the young cast. Amongthe operas Roberne appeared in were "Gianni Schichi" and "Madame Butterfly."Roberne was an active member of Virgeen Latson's Piano Performance Group andgave three duo-concerts. She was principal cellist with the Amarillo SymphonyOrchestra in the 1940s and she often sang for the USO, weddings and churchservices.At the time of her marriage, after working for the Bureau of AgriculturalEconomics and the Civil Aeronautics Board during the war, she became chieflegal secretary to the senior trial attorney at Phillips Petroleum. Later sheserved as corporate secretary for Foran Construction Co. She was co-owner ofArrangements Plus, a travel guide company that specialized in Panhandleheritage.She married her childhood sweetheart, William J. Bill Foran in 1946, after hisreturn from World War II, and they had five children. She preferred being aroom mother to serving on boards. She led each of her daughters' Girl ScoutTroops and supported all of her children's activities. It was not unusual forRoberne to attend 10 or more sports or extracurricular events a week. Robernewas an enthusiastic supporter in all of Bill's civic activities, includingchairmanship of the State Health Department, State Associated GeneralContractors and Rotary International.Roberne was a founding member of the Amarillo Great Books Group in 1954, theoldest continuous membership Great Books group in the nation. She wasappointed to the board which pioneered the Amarillo College Community Programand she served twice as the foreman of the Potter County Grand Jury. Sheserved as a docent at the Amarillo Museum of Art for more than 25 years. Shewas named Texas Admiral by Gov. Dolph Briscoe. One of her proudest honors wasbeing named to the Amarillo Library board. Other organizations she supportedwere Westminster Presbyterian Church (elder), Amarillo Little Theatre,Amarillo Symphony, Amarillo Opera, Planned Parenthood, KACV-TV, West Texas A&MWomen's Financial Seminar, Daughters of the American Revolution, ColonialDames, Kids, Inc., the Old Main Society of WTAMU, Goodnight Circle of thePanhandle Plains Museum, Texas Dance Theater, Junior Travel Study Club,International Club and Democratic Women.She was preceded in death by a son, James Robert Foran. Family and friendsformed a Jim Foran Memorial Fund for Youth, which sponsored an annual sixth-grade basketball tournament for 10 years. The fund continues to support youthactivities and scholarships.Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Bill Foran; a sister, WendeneWilson Shoupe of Findlay, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Don Foran and wife Mozelle;four children, Ronda Foran Kelly of Houston, Joseph William Foran of Dallas,Donda Foran Thomasson of Beaumont and Wendy Foran Howard of Chicago; 14grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many beloved in-laws, nieces,nephews, cousins and friends.The family suggests memorials be to the Jim Foran Memorial Scholarship Fund ofWTAMU, in care of WTAMU Foundation, P.O. Box 60766, Canyon, TX 79016; Kids,Inc., 2201 E. 27th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79103; the Amarillo Opera, 2223 S. VanBuren St.; or a favorite charity.
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1920 - 2006 (86 years)
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