Roberta “Bobbie” Thiry
December 12, 1926 – April 24, 2012
Roberta “Bobbie” Thiry died Tuesday, April 24, 2012 in Salina, KS. She was born Dec. 12, 1926, in Washington County, the daughter of Charles “Ed” and Otilla VanKirk.
After graduating from Barnes (KS) Rural High School, Roberta was briefly employed at Boeing prior to entering the Cadet Nursing Program at Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita. She was employed for several years at Wesley Hospital in the Operating Room while attending Wichita State University (WSU) part time. She began teaching part time, then full time in the diploma program at Wesley School of Nursing while completing her BA degree and additional courses in the Education Specialist program. Upon completion of her master’s degree in Medical Surgical Nursing from the University of Colorado, she became Assistant Director of the program until she was sought to establish the new BSN program at WSU in 1970. The program was developed and accredited in one year before a doctorally prepared nurse became the chair. Ms. Thiry then entered the Nurse Scientist (Ph.D.) Program at the University of Kansas (KU) specializing in Communications and Human Relations. She continued working part time for Hesston College and on research projects and teaching off-campus courses for KU while enrolled. Upon completion of her Ph.D. degree, she joined the graduate nursing faculty at KU. Dr. Thiry later spent a year as Associate Dean of Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and eight years as Chair of the Nursing Department at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS, before establishing the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) in Salina in cooperation with Asbury Hospital. After retiring from the KWU nursing program in 1996 she assisted the KWU Business Department with coursework and support for the first group of Taiwanese MBA students who were admitted into the program.
Throughout her career and retirement, Dr. Thiry was actively involved in professional organizations and community service. Examples include service to the American Heart Association on local and state boards, and as a member of the national Cardiovascular Nursing Council; board member and instructor for the Wichita Area Red Cross; member of the Salina-Saline County Public Health Advisory Board; active in the Kansas League for Nursing, served eight years on the Kansas State Board of Nursing as president, secretary, and on numerous committees and councils for the Kansas State Nurses Association (KSNA); member of the American Nurses Association’s Congress for Nursing Practice representing them on the National Joint Practice Commission; and trustee and officer of the Kansas Nurses Foundation for many years. She also provided consulting services to educational and practice settings, presented numerous continuing education programs for colleagues, and taught classes for individuals and families with diabetes. She contributed chapters to several books, articles to nursing journals, and served as an editor and on two editorial boards. She received many honors for her service, the latest being the Women of Achievement Award locally.
Dr. Thiry considered her greatest contribution to be as a mentor and supporter of nurses in advancing their education and career development, thus there are three endowed scholarship funds honoring her at Pittsburg State University, Kansas Wesleyan University, and the Kansas Nurses Foundation. Memorials are requested to be directed to one of the endowed funds. Cremation rites have been accorded, and private services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Barnes, KS, May 11th. A Celebration of Life will be in the fall at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina in conjuction with KSNA. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is in charge of arrangements.