Roberta Fletcher Arwood
June 14, 1920 ~ March 29, 2010
Resided in:
Pueblo, CO
Roberta Fletcher Arwood of Pueblo, died on March 29, 2010. She was born June 14, 1920, in Wichita Falls, Texas and raised her family there. She retired as manager of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra and moved to Pueblo in 1962, as music director of St. Paul Methodist Church. From 1967, she devoted full time to voice teaching. She taught private students, conducted master classes at several universities as well as in Austria and was a key soloist on stage in both the United States and Europe. She was a frequent soloist with the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, and was identified with the role of the mother in Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Pueblo, National Association of Teachers of Singing and MacDowell Music Club.
She is predeceased by her son, Charles Fletcher Arwood. Survived by daughters, Reverend Mona A (Mike) Bailey, Fort Worth, Texas, and Linda A. Young of Pueblo; brother, Robert Grady (Nona) Fletcher; grandchildren, Dr. Ken Bailey, Linda Beth McGeehon, Robin Wilcox and Dr. Myra Young; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 3, 2010, at First United Methodist Church.
Those who wish to honor her memory are invited to make donations to the charity of their choice.
Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com
Das müsst ihr euch unbedingt ansehen https://www.instagram.com/p/BrDEiQtlvvn
Creme de mint before the singing lesson to warm up the throat. First class all the way is what I know about Mrs. Arwood. Always smiling and happy to be singing and sharing her love for her craft. Everytime I would see her she always liked to tell the story about how I ran through the water spinkler when I first came to her house oh about 40 years ago. We always remained devoted friends even though we didnt see eachother that often. It was Mrs. Arwood that taught me how to preserve my voice by singing correctly,with ease and control. Still to this day people comment on how much control I have of my voice, how I can sing for hours and not get strained. Mrs. Arwood was an extremely important influence in my life and I will always remember her. My deepest condolences to the family. I will carry on Mrs. Arwoods legacy by sharing her teachings to others that care about singing as much as she did. Bravo Mrs. Arwood you ARE THE BEST !!! I LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER, Kim Kalesti
Like others who have signed this guest book, I cherish memories of the life of Roberta Arwood. During the years 1969-1971, when I was a high school student in Pueblo, she hired me as piano accompanist for her voice studio. Her kindness, her example as a teacher, her affirmation of my gifts, and her consummate musicianship formed me deeply for the career I have had in the years since then as a musician and teacher. It is with great joy and gratitude that I remember Mrs. Arwood.
Deepest sympathies to you her family in the loss of this great and dear woman.
Sincerely,
Judy Congdon
I have always loved Roberta. I regret that I did not get a chance to visit her before she passed. Many years ago, she was my voice teacher. I really wanted to be a singer, but I didn’t have a lot to offer. Not once did she ever negatively criticize me or tell me that I didn’t sound lovely. She always had something positive to say to me when others did not. I will never forget her for this. She has been nothing but an inspiration to me. She truly has a beautiful mansion with Jesus today.
God Bless
My heart goes out to Roberta’s family.
Love Debi Clark
Today I received the very sad news that my dearest friend Roberta passed away. A friendship that I have cherished for many years. We’ve worked on many projects together which were wonderful moments I will never forget.
I met Roberta in 1968 when I was invited to come to Pueblo to become Music Director of the Pueblo Symphony Association. Our first cooperation was when I founded the Pueblo Symphony Chorale and Roberta came to audition. I heard a wonderful trained professional voice of very high quality. It wouldn’t have been necessary for Roberta to audition for the Chorale. It would have been every choir director’s dream to have her voice and personality in their choir.
She was also a great friend to our family for almost a half a century. She gave my two sons their first voice lessons. My wife Michaela accompanied her often at the piano when she sang in recitals or Hausmusik-Concerts in Pueblo and on concert tours in Europe.
Roberta was the lead soloist with the Pueblo Symphony Chorale and performed many times as a soloist with the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra . She was also a very successful voice teacher and among others taught master classes at the Neuberg Music Festival in Austria.
Roberta also had another great talent and that was as a writer. Many of the texts to my compositions and also works and translations of songs for choral and choral orchestra works have been published by the Austrian Music publishing company Doblinger and leading American music publishing companies.
We wrote the children’s musical: “The Reindeer’s Surprise” together which was performed at Christmas Concerts at Memorial Hall in Pueblo.
On February 18, 2006 we performed the world premiere performance of the oratorio:”Abraham and Isaak” at Hoag Hall in Pueblo. Roberta gave me the text in 1980 and I was very happy that she was present and also honored by the audience for the performance. It was the last time we saw each other.
I know she was so happy to see her last publication. A book of poems and texts from many of her songs.
Dear Roberta, we love you. You were a wonderful person and friend.
In admiration and love from our family we will never forget you. We lost a great friend. Rest in peace.
Gerhard, Michaela, Wolfgang and Alexander Track
Mrs. Arwood was a mentor to me in so many ways. Her passion for music and life was palpable, and is something I still carry with me. To this day, I live by her guidance… “You have to give 110% because 100 is not enough.” Thank you Roberta for everything you gave me.
Much love,
Kent Fritzel
We shared many long and relaxing evenings of conversation with Roberta. We just wish we had known her earlier in our lives, not enough time with her. We know she will be missed by everyone who knew her .We love the book she wrote and will always treasure it as a gift from a very dear freind.
When I read about Roberta’s death in the Chieftain I was not surprised that all of her professional accomplishments were listed. They were many and well earned. But… that was not her impact upon my life. I remember sitting in the adult Sunday school class at 1st church and hearing her tell a story of her life that illustrated the concept of love. For the Love of Charles, she said, I cleared fallen tree branches to ease his mowing of my lawn. That story has always stayed with me. And when things happen that cause difficult choices, I ask my self is this a chance to do a “for the love of…” and almost always it is. And usually it is small and not often observed, yet at the same time it is really what we are here to do for each other. For the Love of…–I wonder how many of us sat in that class that day and carried that lesson into our lives and are practicing it because of Roberta Arwood.
I know what my faith teaches me and I know that I often doubt and wonder, but this I know for sure. That as long as I live and practice her lesson, so does she. And as long as all of us that heard it or passed it on and live it, so does Roberta. She cannot die only not be physically present with us.
Go with God, Roberta,and for the family peace be with you.
Roberta..You gave me shelter from the storm…More importantly, you insisted that I have a voice…and you were right! Thanks, Landlady, and Go With God.
Jim
What a BRIGHT LIGHT is now shining in God’s heaven. Her smiles, laughter, beautiful voice and just plain ole human kindness are now being enjoyed by those of our family who have gone before us. Scootzie, if you are listening, give my mom and dad big hugs!! Much love and sympathy to all.
Jan
My deepest condolences go out to your family. Mrs Arwood was my voice teacher when I was very young and I cherish the memories I had at her home and loved getting cookies after every voice lesson. She was a fabulous woman and teacher.
Roberta was a true original. So gifted and spirited! And she touched oh so many lives. My mother and I extend our sorrow in her passing, yet we rejoice and celebrate the many years we had with her. We cherish our memories of “Bert”. I treasure her wonderful book of poetry…the heavens are now treated to a glorious, everlasting concert. My love to you, Linda & Mona. Your mother was so very special.
Sincerely,
Gail Threlkeld
What a remarkable woman; what a life of love, joy, and accomplishment! Roberta was a role model, a teacher, a friend. My condolences to the family.
Dearest Mona & Family,
What a wonderful life! So many accomplishments and such a fulfilling life. Your Mother had left a wonderful legacy for her family and others. The ladies in the White Lake Hills Woman’s Club embrace you with love and prayers. God bless all.
White Lake Hills
Our hearts are heavy with the loss of Roberta but lifted on high when we remember the joy of her voice we were privileged to hear at Pueblo First United Methodist Chruch. We loved her Christmas gift of her recently published book. We did get a visit in Dec 08 and for that we are thankful.
Our deep condolences to Linda and the rest of the family.
Faye and Ed Beck
My heartfelt best wishes extend to all of Roberta’s family and friends as you gather to celebrate her life and joy of living this coming Saturday. Roberta was one of my mother’s best and closest friends, and I am confident that heaven is singing in glorious welcome as the two of them are joined together once again and for eternity.