Recent News
Share thisAlumni Notes | July 2020
Vivian Baptista ’45 (Chesbrough Seminary) passed away peacefully on June 16, 2020 at the age of 93. Her first husband, David E. Robbins, predeceased her in 2001. Her sister Ruth Wright predeceased her in 2019. She is survived by siblings Joyce Smith (Edward), Edward Campbell (Joanna), Sandra Noble (Raymond), her second husband, James V. Baptista, two daughters, Barbara L. Bates (Ken) and Jane A. Miner (Thomas), five grandchildren: Shannon Kitchen (Ben), Peter Bates (Joanna), Rachel Miner, Mark Miner (Laura), Scott Miner (Sarah), and ten great grand children: Lyndsay Kitchen, Levi Kitchen, Lucas Kitchen, Violet Bates, Cora Bates, James Bates, Joshua Miner, David Miner, Joy Miner, and Jude Miner.
Born on April 20, 1927, she entered a loving, Christ-centered family. Her growing up years were spent on the small family farm near Port Byron, New York in the company of her parents Ernest and Rachel Campbell and her siblings Ruth, Joyce, Edward, and Sandra.
She entered college at the age of sixteen, attending Chesbro Seminary and then finishing at Houghton College. After a year of teaching, she married David E. Robbins and together they had two daughters, Barbara and Jane.
Vivian and David came to North Chili in 1961. She taught English and later became the middle school librarian for the Gates Chili School District until her retirement.
The first year of her retirement she enrolled in a year-long course to become a certified Braillist and, after earning her certificate, spent hours, days, and weeks transcribing textbooks for blind students, including geometry textbooks. When she and Dave built a home in Waxhaw, NC, she continued transcribing there while Dave volunteered with Wycliffe Bible Translators at their JAARS center. They divided their time between New York and North Carolina for many years.
After Dave’s death in 2001, Vivian continued to winter in North Carolina and summer in North Chili where she kept a large vegetable garden and cultivated flowers, sharing her vegetables and love of gardening with neighbors and family.
While in Waxhaw after being widowed, she met Jim Baptista and a wonderful friendship between them blossomed into a second marriage for each of them in 2010. Jim and Vivian split their time between states for several more years but eventually settled in Waxhaw year round.
In 2018 they moved to Houghton, NY to be near both of Vivian’s daughters and began living in an apartment in daughter Jane’s home where Barbara and Jane shared in looking after their needs until August 2019.
At that time Jim and Vivian returned to North Chili together to live at Rochester Presbyterian Home’s memory care facility at Cottage Grove and from where Vivian has gone peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior.
Vivian was a loving daughter, sibling, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, spouse, and friend. She was generous and sacrificially supportive, caring and compassionate, positive in her outlook, courageous in the face of sorrow or trials, and a model of Christ-like qualities to her family and caregivers. She will be dearly missed, but here is our confidence:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” - Philippians 3:20-21
In lieu of flowers, we would encourage you to make a contribution in her memory to one of the following organizations she supported throughout her life:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Houghton College
Roberts Wesleyan College
Jack Fraser ’57 (Biology) hit a hole-in-one on the 4th hole at the Churchville Golf Course on May 21, 2020. A first in his 86 years. Congratulations, Jack!
Jim J. Heldreth ‘40 (Chesbrough Seminary), 98, of Chester, WV, formally of East Liverpool, OH passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at East Liverpool City Hospital.
James was born on December 24, 1921 in Smithfield, WV the son of the late Wilbert C and Ethel (Dye) Heldreth. James joined the US Marine Corps during World War II and served in the South Pacific. He graduated from Chesbrough Seminary, which is now Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. Later, he served for 18 years on Roberts Board of Trustees and upon resigning was elected into the Alumni Hall of Fame. James was employed by Chrysler Corporation, Ferro Corporation and Endicott Church Furniture Inc. of Winona Lake, Indiana, where he worked as a Sales Counselor until he retired in 1983. James was a member of the Free Methodist Church since 1933 and at Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool since 1941. The college and church were his main interest in life.
James was preceded in death on March 2, 2006 by his wife, Anna, whom he married on March 14, 1941.
James is survived by one brother, Charles Heldreth of Columbiana, OH and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Pauline McKelvey Roushey ’54, N. Chili, passed peacefully at home, June 12, 2020, age 90.
Pauline Janet McKelvey was born in July of 1929 to Harvey and Janet McKelvey, of Kittanning, PA, one of seven children. In that bustling town her favorite place was the public library and her first job was babysitting. Her love of books and children followed her through life.
She moved to Rochester in 1949 to attend Roberts Wesleyan College, working for GM and also for Kodak, at the Hawkeye Plant, between class sessions. The girl from the hills of Pennsylvania became a North Chili girl when she met and married George Roushey in 1951, and was warmly received into the Roushey family. She lived in devotion to God, her husband, three children and church, serving in children's programs and later in the library at Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church. She fed and housed many overnight guests as people came to town for church and college events. While her children were in school she worked at JC Penney, Ridgemont Plaza, and at the Pearce Nursery School. Her heart then widened to love and enjoy three grandchildren.
Pauline is most remembered for her loving, faithful service and jovial nature. She was predeceased by her son, David; and is survived by her husband of 69 years, George W. Roushey; son, Bruce Roushey; daughter, Tina (Stan) Letarte; sister, Grace (Hershel) Shea; and grandchildren, Kelly, Ian and Joseph Letarte. Donations in Pauline's memory may be made to the Pearce Church food cupboard (made out to Pearce Church with Pauline Roushey in the memo line).
1 Corinthians 13:13
Russell Toth ’03 (Humanities), and his wife Sarah, welcomed Adaliyah Rose Toth (nickname Addy) to their family in May 2020. Congratulations!
Rev. Raymond E. Walker ’75, 77, of Stafford, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center in Rochester.
Rev. Walker was born October 3, 1942, in Rochester, a son of the late William and Audrey (Hesson) Walker.
Rev. Walker graduated from Byron-Bergen Central School and enlisted in the Marine Corps. Following his service to the country, Ray became a Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy while attending Roberts Wesleyan College where he earned his Master's Degree. Following college, Rev. Walker began his teaching career as a history teacher at Batavia Middle School. He moved to North Carolina where he worked in the court system and became an ordained minister in 1980. Eventually, he returned to Batavia where he was the Assistant Principal at Batavia High School until retiring in 2005.
Retirement did not last long as he began teaching inmates through Genesee Community College. Following his work with GCC, Ray ran the Residential Program at the NYS School for the Blind. Rev. Walker served as pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Batavia for several years followed by the First Baptist Church of Batavia prior to his retirement just a few years ago. An accomplished vocalist, Ray was trained at the Eastman School of Music and enjoyed performing at various churches.
He is the husband of Virginia (Farrell) Walker of Stafford. The two were married August 4, 2007.
Surviving along with his wife are his children, Raymond D. Walker of Rochester, Charles T. Wille of Kentucky, and Justin J. Wille of Missouri; sisters Delaine (Halbard) Pinkcett and Susan (Abram) Cotton both of Rochester; sisters-in-law Kathleen (late Bill) Farrell of Maryland and Eileen Farrell of New Hampshire. Several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.
Ray is preceded in death by a son, James C. Walker; a brother, Thomas H. Walker; and sisters, Audrey Walker and Ella Griffin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rev. Walker's memory may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 North Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.
For more news articles, you can take a look at our archive.