Obituary of Margarita B. Becker

Brevard County lost long time resident Margarita Bardi Roberts Becker on February 12, 2016, at the age of 87. Mrs. Becker lived in Brevard County for the last 56 years of her life. A native of El Salvador, she began her career as a bi-lingual flight attendant for TACA airlines. While stationed in New Orleans she met Charles McWhorter Roberts, a medical student at Tulane University. They married in June of 1951 and she worked thereafter for a large Louisiana petroleum company. She became a +óGé¼+ôstay at home+óGé¼-¥ mom after her first son, Charles Joseph, was born during Dr. Roberts+óGé¼Gäó internship in Jacksonville Florida. Charles was followed by Richard, then Dena, then Bill. The family moved to Brevard County in 1960 where Margarita was a very active member of the community. She joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in 1960 and remained a member of the church until her death. She volunteered as a gray lady at Sherwood Elementary, was a member of the Indian River Players, the Castaways Dive club, the Spanish Club, the Indian River chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America Inc., and TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). She loved to cook and entertain and especially enjoyed serving her famous paella to the Spanish club. Margarita became paraplegic in 1976 as the result of a scuba diving accident during a trip to Cozumel, Mexico. It created a life-changing struggle for her which she kept as her own and refused to let impact anyone else. A woman of indomitable character, Margarita went on to graduate from Brevard Community College in 1982 and worked as an accountant for long-time Melbourne attorney Jackson Vaughn Jr. Following her marriage to her second husband, Saul Becker, Mrs. Becker moved to Andros Island in the Grand Bahamas and worked as an accountant for AUTEC. Mrs. Becker+óGé¼Gäós adventurous spirit was not diminished by her disability. She travelled the world, swam, and continued to scuba dive. She did a 5K +óGé¼+ôRace for the Cure+óGé¼-¥ benefitting breast cancer using only forearm crutches. Margarita, the last participant to cross the finish line, took over five hours to complete the race. She was met and encouraged by +óGé¼+ôWonder Woman+óGé¼-¥ Lynda Carter who waited for Margarita and joined her for the last kilometer of the race. Margarita had an artistic side to her personality. She enjoyed making stained glass, hooking rugs, and cross-stitching including black work. Family was important to Margarita. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren as well as her extended family. Margarita loved adding a personal touch to Christmas by cross-stitching Christmas ornaments for her grandchildren. Margarita and Saul retired to Melbourne Village in 1991. Margarita was widowed in 2002. After being widowed, Margarita continued her active lifestyle living independently and alone until she was 80 years old. Margarita is preceded into glory by husbands Charles McWhorter Roberts and Saul Emil Becker. She is survived by her brothers Remo and Hugo, Sister Dina, children Charles Roberts, Richard Roberts (Kim), Dena Jordan (Lamar), and William Roberts (Robin), 10 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Margarita died on Friday, February 12, 2016 of cardiac arrest secondary to acute renal failure at Health First Viera Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 10:00 am at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 50 West Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne, FL.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Project R.E.L.I.E.F. care of Brevard Alzheimers Foundation. Please remember to notate Project R.E.L.I.E.F. in the memo of your check.