Evelyn Roberts
Evelyn played a vital role in her husband’s worldwide evangelistic ministry from its beginning in 1947. In obedience to God’s call on their lives, she was instrumental in helping Oral carry the message of God’s saving, healing, delivering power through the building of Oral Roberts University and the many other outreaches of the Oral Roberts Ministries. She served as a trustee for Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association since its founding and was a spiritual lifetime regent for Oral Roberts University. In addition to being a full-time wife and mother, she often worked behind the scenes assisting her husband in areas such as helping him answer the huge volume of letters received from hurting people around the world.
Born April 22, 1917, in Warsaw, Missouri, Evelyn was one of eight children. During her childhood, the family moved to Oklahoma, where she later attended Northeastern State University. She also attended Texas College of Arts and Industries in Kingsville, Texas, and taught school for three years in Texas.
Oral and Evelyn were married in Westville, Oklahoma, on December 25, 1938. Through their commitment to each other, their abiding faith in God, and determination to obey whatever God told them to do regardless of the cost, generations of people have been blessed.
Evelyn was the author of several books, including her best-selling autobiography, His Darling Wife, Evelyn. She also authored Whither Thou Goest, Evelyn Roberts’ Miracle Life Stories, and a children’s book, Heaven Has a Floor.
Evelyn was preceded in death by a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca Ann and Marshall Nash, and a son, Ronald David Roberts; a sister, Ruth Swank, and a brother, Bob Fahnestock; and one grandson. She is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Lindsay Roberts, and a daughter and son-in-law, Roberta and Ronald Potts, all of Tulsa; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; sisters Kathleen Green and Bettye Hamblin; and brothers George Fahnestock, J.D. Fahnestock, and Paul Fahnestock.