Roberta A. (Ashe) Fogle

Mrs. Roberta Ashe Fogle of Watermark East Hill Southbury, CT, and formerly of Katonah, NY passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 10, 2021.  She had turned 97 just five days earlier and received numerous visitors and calls from her family across the country.

Born Roberta Mae Ashe in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania as the eldest daughter to the late James Dewey and Florence (Houk) Ashe.  Roberta was predeceased by her husband Howard D. Fogle Jr. in 2012 after 67 years of marriage.  She was predeceased by her brothers Kenneth and William Ashe.  She is survived by her sister Martha Firth and brother Charles Ash; daughter Mary Anne Denton (Kirk Denton) of Southbury, CT; sons H. Daniel Fogle III (Virginia McCarthy) of North Salem, NY and Kenneth J. Fogle (Janet Ferguson) of Chagrin Falls, OH; as well as seven grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.

Roberta has fond memories of growing up in a loving home filled with extended family, despite her school years occurring during the great depression.  Much of her childhood centered around social activities with the Presbyterian Church Sunday School and summers on her Grandma Ashe's farm where she had many adventures with the farm animals and helping her grandmother.  She particularly recalled the excitement of the Thrashers arriving with the great husky farm men in the fields and gathering of the women in preparing great feasts for all at harvest time.  She claimed her high school years were focused on fun as there would be no funds to continue her education.  She was in her junior and senior plays, choir, band, captain of the Girls Athletic Association in high school and played forward on the basketball team.  Her primary sport was swimming where she said the usual competitions at Buhl Park ended with her in first place, and her friend Norma second.  Sunday and Wednesday evening bible studies were a major part of social life in their small town.  That is where Roberta met Howard from the neighboring school.  At 16, she told her mother that she planned on marrying him.

When she learned Norma was going to Nurse Training in the neighboring town of Sharon, she decided she could do it too.  She worked numerous jobs to raise the $85 to secure her first year.  World War II intervened and the rules changed.  Roberta was now on Cadet Nurse scholarship and the hospital allowed senior students to marry if their soldier was going overseas.  Howard and Roberta married in 1944 and honeymooned in Cleveland, OH.  Howard then shipped out to Italy where he spent most of the 19 months.  After the war they moved to Penn State to complete Howard's college and begin their family.

Howard's work brought them to Katonah, NY in 1955 where they lived for 56 years.  Once the youngest started school, Roberta looked to return to nursing.  Northern Westchester Hospital was not accepting part time RN's so Roberta conceived the idea of Katonah Play School and began offering childcare at her church.  Roberta enjoyed 37 years of introducing 3 and 4 year olds to counting, ABC's, colors, ethics, and social skills.  Her work was an endeavor of love and great reward.  She spoke of how easy to teach the cooperative child, but how important it was to reach the troubled child.  She was extraordinary in her ability to correct behavior, while preserving the dignity of the child.

Roberta loved the discovery and exploration of new places.  The Fogles traveled extensively with tent camping trips as a young family across the US and Canada.  In their empty nest years, they took several trips throughout Europe and multiple visits to Howard's beloved Italy.  Roberta remained a devout spiritual woman.  She read scripture in the solitude of early morning and took great joy in her many roles as a wife, mother to her children and their spouses, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and guide to all of the 3 year old's who displayed the wonder and awe of discovery of lives just beginning.

Roberta Fogle was a woman of grace and beloved by many.  A memorial and celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Katonah Presbyterian Church, 31 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY.  All are welcome.  Memorial donations in Roberta's name are asked to be forwarded to Gift of Life, 31 Louise Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 or at GOLNEO.org.  For directions, or to leave a message of remembrance, please visit www.CarpinoCares.com.

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