Rowena Selby

Derby – Selby, Rowena (Robe), age 86, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Via Christi Georgetown Village in Wichita, KS. Visitation 1-8pm Friday, March 22nd, with family present 5-7pm at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. Funeral service 10am Saturday, March 23rd, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1602 E. Chet Smith Ave., Derby. Interment 3pm Saturday, March 23rd, at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Joe W. Selby, and her parents, Gilbert and Olive Robe of Ottawa, KS. She is survived by her five daughters, Cheri (Robert) Gage of Derby, Chris Gallagher of Salinas, CA, Susan (Robert) Ladenburger of Denver, CO, Julie (Landon) Helm of Minneapolis, MN and Robbie (Terry) Freund of Derby; eight grandchildren, Matthew Gage, Andrew Gage, Jenni Olson, Sarah Dominick, Anne Ladenburger, Alison Ladenburger, Hailey Helm and Taylor Freund; three great-grandchildren, Jackson Gage, Peter Dominick and Bruce Baxter. Rowena married Joe Wesley Selby in June 1949 and assisted him in his veterinary practice until his death in 1971. In 1973, she bought a ladies ready to wear store in Ottawa, KS, “The Village Shoppe” and was the owner for 5 years until moving to Derby in 1978. Her career in ladies retail clothing continued as she worked for Wichita stores such as Stranahan’s, Seifert’s and Lewin’s. She worked for Henry’s for nine years until they closed and she continued to work for Henry’s fur department on a seasonal basis for many years. Some of Rowena’s proudest accomplishments came from her love of volunteering. She was on the vestry of Grace Church, Ottawa in the 1970’s and also, while in Ottawa served as the President of the Ransom Memorial Hospital auxiliary in 1970. After moving to Derby she served as Senior Warden of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in 1986 and 1987 and again in 1998. She produced the church newsletter for many years and worked in the church office. She volunteered at Episcopal Social Services, Venture House, from the time she moved to Derby until last spring when she was no longer able to drive. Rowena gave many weekend hours to the YWCA Women’s Crisis Center where she helped women and children. She loved giving to children and was active in the Derby Senior Center’s “Reader’s Theater”, a program for reading to primary schoolchildren, for many years. She was instrumental in providing “birthday bags” for children of USD 260 who might not have otherwise been remembered on their birthdays. Rowena’s legacy is that of strong love of family and selfless giving to her church and community. Memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.