Roma Joyce (Selby) Tuttle went home to her Lord Jesus on December 27th, 2021 at Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, Quinter, KS, at the age of 94. She was born April 29, 1927, in Utica KS, to Forest Selby and Nellie (Simmons, Selby) Meier and spent her early childhood on her Grandfather Simmons’s farm near the Smoky Hill River.
One of her childhood memories was walking two miles to and from a one-room schoolhouse (Sunnyside School District #47) with her mother, who was also her teacher. During the winter, she and her siblings (Virginia, Evelyn, and Keith) would slide or roll down the snow-ridden draws on the way to school. Once they arrived at the school, they would then have to load the old pot-bellied stove with coal and get the fire burning to warm up the schoolhouse before the other students arrived. The school was also used for church services, where Roma would sing and play the piano. Another childhood memory was going on long walks through the pastures with her Aunt Mary (Simmons) Carmichael to behold the beauty of all the spring wildflowers. As this was long before phone service, whenever anyone went somewhere, they were to write a note on the kitchen blackboard for all to see.
After graduating from Quinter High School in 1945, she began her career with Bank of Wichita as a typist and stenographer. She married Charles H. Tuttle on July 6, 1946, at the home of Rev. Paul Brandt, pastor of the Church of the Brethren. Charles and Roma had three sons; Steven, Bradley, and Kent. Roma was a stay-at-home mother until her boys were in school. She then worked a variety of jobs in Quinter, KS which included the First National Bank and Flex King Corporation.
Roma was a member of the Church of the Brethren with her life revolving around family, friends, and faith. Early in her life, she cultivated a daily habit of worshipping Jesus Christ on her piano and reading the Bible. She enjoyed her ongoing fellowship with the Gyne Fealti Club, Historical Society, quilting, and church choir at the Church of the Brethren. She also enjoyed cooking roast beef every Sunday for members of her church to enjoy in her home. But, she is most famous for her mouth-watering, quick disappearing Divinity… that was divine to the taste!
Survivors include two sons, Steven Tuttle of Fairhope, AL and Bradley (Juneal) Tuttle of Fort Collins, CO; seven grandchildren, Michelle (Peter) Swartz of Gilbert, AZ, Christine (Cameron) Matthie, of Fort Collins, CO, Paul (Stacy) Tuttle of Marlton, NJ, Christopher Hunter, Jersey City, NJ, John (Lauren) Tuttle of Philadelphia, PA, Amanda (Tom) King, of Fairhope, AL, Joshua (Lisa) Tuttle of Sewell, NJ; and 15 great-grandchildren, Camille Swartz, Kyle (Rachel) Swartz, Clayton Matthie, Conner (Brooke) Matthie, Carly King, Nikolas Tuttle, Allie Blankenship, Dominic King, Maya Hunter, Jake Hunter, Ava Tuttle, Sophia Tuttle, Michael Tuttle, Julian Tuttle, and Jordan Tuttle.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 8th, 2022, at the Church of the Brethren, Quinter, KS, with Pastor Keith Funk officiating. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Tourette Association of America, 42-40 Bell BLVD, Ste 205, Bayside, NY 11361, or donate online at: www.tourette.org.