Julia Katherine Stevens (Roider) Bales
Born: December 19, 1917
Died: May 2, 2016
Julia Katherine Stevens (Roider) Bales entered into the arms of Jesus at the age of 98-1/2 on May 2, 2016 surrounded by her family.
Born in Francisco, Indiana to James Daniel Stevens and Esther Annis Stormont Stevens in 1917 as the youngest of eight children, she was orphaned in March of 1920 when both parents died in the 1918 flu pandemic. Adopted by Blanche and Frank Lanman of Princeton, Indiana, she was kept in close contact with her siblings throughout her long, well-lived life, and is the last of her siblings to pass away.
Julia was a gifted musician who loved her family and music over everything else. Known as an excellent cook, she was always cooking from scratch with fresh ingredients even at the poorest of times during the depression and WWII. One of her greatest joys was to gather with family and friends, serve great food and tell wonderful stories. She sang in church choirs wherever she lived and played both the piano and organ. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a giggle that family and friends will never forget.
As Julia described, it was love at first sight when she met Gerald (Jerry) Roider in 1958. After a beautiful but swift 3-month courtship they married. Julia always referred to Jerry as the love of her life and her soul mate. She now joins him in heaven. They were married nearly 36 blessed years until he passed in 1994. She thought of him, talked of him, and missed him greatly every day since. Her years with Jerry were her happiest and opened an entirely new chapter in her life. Being part of a Saratoga Springs, New York horse training family, Jerry trained and raced horses, ending up owning his own stable. This life took them all over the United States.
Upon his death, she moved to Dansville, New York, where she lived until moving in 2013 to the New Day Cottages Assisted Living Home in Colorado Springs to be nearer to family.
Julia’s hope was that as people learned about her life, they would see how God directed her steps all her life. She had many favorite Bible verses, including Romans 8:28 and Psalm 19:14.
She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Esther Mansell of Gloucestershire, England, a stepdaughter, Dale Current of Saratoga Springs, New York, a granddaughter, Pamela Sparks of Monument, Colorado, a grandson, Todd Coolidge of Damascus, Maryland, two great grandsons, Tyler and John Kyle Sparks of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and one great great granddaughter, two step grandchildren, Robin Kirkpatrick and Norm Current of Saratoga Springs, New York, two step-great grandsons, Ian and Connor Kirkpatrick of Saratoga Springs, New York, along with numerous grand, great, and great great nieces and nephews.