William Palmer Roberts

William Palmer “Bill” Roberts passed away unexpectedly August 7, 2011. He was born in Hope, Arkansas on October 9, 1921 to William P. Roberts, Sr. and Irene Chamberlain Roberts. After Bill graduated from high school in 1939, he began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, the employer with which he would spend the rest of his civilian professional life. When World War II began, Bill joined the Army Air Corp. He was with the 97th and 398th Bombardment Wings and flew several missions as a gunner on B-17’s. His primary military job, however, was in communications, setting up and serving field telephone systems in England, Belgium and France. In recognition of his completion of a critical communications center under extreme time pressures, he was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. Bill was discharged in 1945 and returned to his job with “Ma Bell.” During his 44 year career, Bill worked in many parts of the telephone business, including converting operator-assisted systems to dial service, supervising underground cable operation and repairs and overseeing construction of cable installations. His last job was in construction quality control. The people who worked with and for him always said that he was a strict, but straight and fair boss. In 1946, he married Lelda Pickens, who also worked for the phone company and who predeceased him in 2005. They had one daughter, Betsy, who lives with her husband, Gary Wood, in Oklahoma City. Bill was a “second father” to Gary and an older brother to Lelda’s brothers Dale and Gene Ray Pickens and her sister Shirley Pickens Wahlman. He was an avid fisherman and accomplished quail hunter. After he and Lelda retired in 1983, they continued to live in Oklahoma City, but were often away in their travel trailer or on lengthy bus trips with their “Happy Travelers” group. When not traveling, they volunteered many hours through the Telephone Pioneers Lifetime Member Club and Infant Crisis Services. Bill was also a member and served on the Session of Covenant Presbyterian Church and later assisted in the church office each week folding the Sunday bulletins. Bill moved to Manchester House in 2009, where the staff kindly and professionally assisted him in living until his death. A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 2:00 on Wednesday August 10 at Covenant Presbyterian. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest contributions be made in Bill’s memory to World Neighbors or Infant Crisis Services. Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.