Roberta Helen Houston

Roberta Helen Houston

1948-2026

Roberta Helen Houston died at her home in the Longwood Retirement Community, surrounded by her brother John Houston and Longwood nursing staff.

As a 1950’s era polio survivor, Roberta was always mobile, using the most contemporary technologies to live a busy and productive life. Roberta lived a life of service, particularly to children with disabilities, working for over 40 years at the Rehabilitation Institute in Squirrel Hill, primarily as a speech therapist.

Roberta’s mother, Helen Wilson Houston, and her father James Moore Houston, provided a loving and supportive childhood in Point Breeze. The staircase in their South Lexington Avenue home was equipped with an “Incli-nator” stairlift that gave easy access to the second floor. Her bedroom was filled with games, puzzles and crafts. She participated in a wide variety of creative, social and artistic programs, and often baked the most perfect Nestle recipe chocolate chip cookies in the large family kitchen.

Roberta attended the Olney Friends School for grades 9-12, a Quaker boarding school in Ohio. In addition to academics, Roberta learned the values and practices of living the “simple life” and kept the leather-bound volume of that touchstone until her death.

Roberta was an animal lover. She had several pets, including one large rabbit, but none were more dear to her than her beloved short-haired dachshund “Grandee,” of whom she proudly displayed photo portraits in her bedroom. Grandee was just as playful and friendly as Roberta, When Grandee was struck by a disease that paralyzed her hind legs, Roberta knew just what to do. She worked with fabricators to build a small wheeled cart that supported Grandee’s legs and allowed her to speed around easily. Some might remark that it was providential that Grandee’s impairment was something Roberta knew exactly how to solve.

Roberta was also a very devoted friend- her colleagues at the Rehabilitation Institute loved her dearly. They not only worked together, but they socialized and travelled together. Photo albums from conferences, car trips, cruises and excursions testified to their deep bonds and rich experiences together.

Her Art and Design degree from Robert Morris College drove her lifeline interest in crafts, needlework and even extended to her broad collection of American Girl dolls, clothing and accessories. She made custom needlepoint Christmas stockings for each newborn family member. She had just begun two new stockings for a great grand niece and nephew before she died. They are being completed in her honor in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Her adventurous spirit was also evident in her zeal for participating in athletic events. She played tennis, lawn bowling, rowed to a medal at the “Head of The Ohio” competition, and even slalomed down an icy race course at Aspen, Colorado.

Prior to moving to Longwood, Roberta was the longest tenured resident at The Kenmawr in Shadyside. She was well known to her neighbors and staff, and often used her motorized wheelchair- equipped with safety orange colored flag flapping in the breeze- to navigate the streets and sidewalks for shopping and visiting. It was not uncommon for motorists to do a smiling double take when they saw her whizzing by on her rounds.

Roberta brought all her passions to share with her new Longwood neighbors. She was a vital presence on campus and in the life of the community. As a warm-weather lover, Roberta was out and about every day the sun shone, and even in cooler temps as surfaces permitted- people waved and chatted with her on her rounds. She was very fond of a neighbor’s dog “Abby” and included her in her outdoor excursions every day, and also wheeled her around the interior of the community when the weather was inhospitable. Roberta even attended the “semi-formal” dance with Abby as her “plus one.” She also took great pride in decorating display cabinets in the Longwood Community room every month. Many will fondly remember that Roberta called the numbers with gusto at the Longwood Community Bingo nights.

Her passing leaves a void in the hearts of her surviving family members: her brother John Houston; her nephews and niece- Jim, Bill and John Houston, Lee and Peter Encinosa, Sally McCrady; Her brother William Arnot Houston and sister Jeannie Encinosa, Seffner Florida, predeceased her.

A public Celebration of Life for family and friends is planned for 1-3pm Friday May 29th at the Longwood Retirement Community Auditorium, followed by a private family burial at Homewood Cemetery where she will be interred next to her parents, Helen and James.

Please consider a donation to the Children's Institute in Roberta's honor.

Arrangements entrusted to the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., Oakmont.