Barbour Publishing author Frances J. Roberts died June 23 in Ojai, Calif.

Roberts founded The King's Press in 1964, where she wrote and published the classic devotional Come Away My Beloved and eight other books, selling more than 1.5 million copies in the last 30 years.

After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in 1938, Roberts served as Florida's state director for Child Evangelism Fellowship, writing the popular "Wordless Book Song" during her tenure. An accomplished musician with 88 published hymns, Roberts also taught at a Spanish mission school and worked as a professional accompanist, performing at various churches.

Roberts is survived by three sons and a daughter, four grandchildren, three step grandchildren, two great grandsons and one great granddaughter.

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