Rose Christine DeBoard

1921-2010

Ed and Chris, happily married for 69 years.

Loving Memories

Rose Christine (Gilbert) DeBoard was born on December 4, 1921 to Bessie and Homer Gilbert in Augusta, Kansas. Bessie Gilbert, her mother, always called Rose Christine "Rosy." Grandma DeBoard thought her name was actually Rosy until many years later when Grandpa Ed DeBoard got out her birth certificate and saw it actually said Rose. As a child Rose Christine remembers one of her favorite childhood possessions was a pair of roller skates she was able to buy from selling magazine subscriptions. She spent many happy years loving to visit her grandparents, the Millers and the Gilberts. She shared with me many fun memories of riding scooters and trying to dig a hole big enough to serve as a pool. :)

Christine's parents became Christians when Christine was six-weeks old and joined the Church of the Nazarene. Christine's father. Homer, seemed to have a calling for starting churches and nurturing ones already started. He was successful in starting churches in New Mexico, Texas, Missouri and Kansas. Christine remembers as a teenager playing the piano and helping lead the music at her father's churches. Christine was only 15 years old when her mother passed away, dying from an abscessed tooth. Her father later married Bessie's younger sister, Julia.

Christine attended Bethany Nazarene College, later known as Southern Nazarene University. While there, Christine married Edward DeBoard. They were married on August 11, 1940 in Wichita, Kansas, at her Aunt Elsia Zook's home. Christine and Ed lived in a basement apartment in Bethany Oklahoma. The college church now stands where their apartment was. They didn't have a car so Ed rode his bike and Christine walked to all the stores. She said they still laughed about that later in their marriage. Christine and Ed had two children, Kona Sue and Linda Joyce. Christine was asked what she loved most about being a mother. She wrote, "Being proud of my children, watching them grow and mature, and being aware of the talents God gave to them." Christine said she experienced a turning point in her faith when she realized that she "Could do all things through Christ who strengthens her". Christine and Ed lived many places during their marriage, including Saudi Arabia. Christine also had a vivacious love for traveling. She loved to see the world. She said she always wanted to see what was on the other side of the hill. Christine also loved to cook and entertain. Many of us remember her wonderful and creative meals that she loved to prepare.

She was also once asked, "What lessons do you hope your children and grandchildren learn in life?" Here was her response: "Put God first. Ask Him for guidance, lean on Him and trust Him. Have faith in His goodness and in His ability to carry you through. He will help you handle anything. Be kind and forgiving. Do your best at whatever your task may be. Be a responsible and dependable person."

We will miss Grandma very much. Grandma shared with me that she and Grandpa prayed for all of the grandchildren by name. Our entire family will never forget the fun times we had in Branson on family vacations and the holiday times we shared. We take great comfort in knowing she is with our Almighty. She now rests with the One whom she lived her life serving. We take comfort in knowing that we will all be joined together again someday.

Lovingly compiled by her granddaughter, Christa (Hall) Spencer