E. Roberta Watson, retired clothing designer

E. Roberta Watson, 82, of Amherst, a retired clothing designer, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, in the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Cheektowaga.

Born in Louisa, Ky., the former Ethel Roberta Blankenship lived in Amherst for 59 years.

Mrs. Watson was a gifted designer, creating clothing for dance, theatre, opera, airlines, religious orders, magicians, and hundreds of brides. When she retired, her extensive array of patterns was donated to the Betty Williams pattern collection at the University of Rhode Island Library, helping to make it the largest pattern archive in the United States.

Mrs. Watson was a member of the Amherst Community Church. Throughout her life, she devoted a great deal of time to community service. Her leadership positions included president of the Smallwood Garden Club, Suburban Women's Club, and Ikebana. She also volunteered her time to the PTAs in the Amherst Central School District, arguing persuasively decades ago to provide uniforms for females who participated on interscholastic school sports teams in line with what was already being done for male school athletes.

Mrs. Watson was proud of her Kentucky heritage, co-owning a farm in Louisa, Ky. and was named a "Kentucky Colonel" by the governor of Kentucky in 1992.

She loved to travel and visited several regions of the United States and Canada as well as Japan, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Romania.

Before losing her eyesight, she enjoyed golf, bowling, bridge, and various arts including painting, stained glass, crochet, and knitting.

Her husband of 59 years, Eric R., comptroller for Westinghouse in Cheektowaga, died in 2002.

Mrs. Watson is survived by two daughters, Winifred Brownell of North Kingstown, R.I. and Pamela O'Brien of Amherst; a sister, Ardella Colley of Cincinnati, Ohio; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Saturday, June 9 in Amherst Community Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Amherst Community Church, 77 Washington Highway, Snyder or Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd., Buffalo, NY.

Arrangements were made by D. Lawrence Ginnane Funeral Home.