Carroll Warren Roberts

October 22, 1925-March 21, 2015

Dad passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21 at the Royal Park Care Center with his family by his side. He was born October 22, 1925 to John and Julia (Sanders) Roberts, on the family farm in Roan Mountain, Tennessee where he grew up, graduated high school and was a teacher until he joined the Army Air Corps in January 1944. Dad served in the Pacific Theatre, flying in B-24’s and B-25’s stationed in the Philippines, Okinawa and the Occupation of Japan until his discharge in 1946. Returning home he attended the University of Tennessee, graduating with a degree in agriculture in 1949. While there, he met the love of his life, Myrl Hallock and they were married in August 1949. Dad said his plan was to become a county agent but he was recalled into the Air Force after his marriage and served his country for the next twenty five years as a Navigator, Nuclear Weapons Instructor and Missile Site Commander while moving his large family around several states. It was during this time that he received his Master’s Degree in Education from Wichita State University. He retired in Spokane as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974. Dad was a realtor for the William Carter Company for the next decade and was their leading salesman of the month many times. He and mom then spent the next twenty years enjoying their growing family and taking some nineteen cruises, traveling everywhere from Europe to Australia. Dad was a hunter but his big passion was fly fishing. He tied his own flies and with his best friend Clarence and many others, there wasn’t a stream or lake in the Inland Empire that didn’t have the fish telling ghost stories about him around their campfires. He also liked hiking in the “Boonies” every week with his friends Carl, Will, Dick and Eldon, and we all remember still those many camping trips and cross country travels in that old Dodge school bus turned camper. Dad had a deep love for his Savior, Jesus Christ and shared his faith with everyone. He was a member of Whitworth Presbyterian Church for forty years, serving as an Elder and Deacon. He is survived by his children; John (Kathy) Roberts, Anne (Caney) Knauth, Susan (David) Ross, Peggy (Rick) Beebe, Julia (Allan) Lloyd-Jones, Jim Roberts, David (Nikki) Roberts and Virginia (Niel) McDonagh; his sister, Anne Randolph of Clinton, Tennessee, brother Jack Roberts of Valley Forge, Tennessee; best friend Clarence Grimes of Newport, Washington; twenty four grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, he will be greatly missed. Dad was preceded in death by his wife of fifty eight years, Myrl in 2007, his parents, two sisters and one brother. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church, 312 W. Hawthorne Rd, Spokane, WA. Our family would like to gratefully thank the therapists and staff at Royal Park Care Center for the wonderful and excellent care dad received these past couple of months. You all made his stay there comfortable and he enjoyed his time with you. We would also request that any donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the National Arthritis Foundation.