David William Roberts

David William Roberts went home to be with the Lord on June 4, 2015, at Providence Hospital in Everett. He was 87. He died of lung cancer and complications. He used to say that quitting smoking was easy--that he'd done it thousands of times--but that refraining from picking up the next cigarette was the problem. He finally gave up cigarettes for good after 40+ years--but not, alas, soon enough. The family wishes to thank the nurses of Providence Hospital for all their care of him. Dave was born in Michigan, the eldest son of Isadore "Jack" Roberts and Carrie Ann Kepple. He had three older sisters: half-sister, Vida Jayne Ensign (George), Sarah Louise Senecal (Theodore), and Carolyn Elizabeth Lowry (C. E. "Tom"), and one younger brother, Arthur Monroe Roberts (Lorraine Serpa). All his siblings, their respective spouses, and his parents have predeceased him. He was married for 55 years to Willo Louise Davis, until her death in 2004. He was tremendously proud of Willo's career as an award-winning author. During their marriage, they resided in Gresham, Oregon; Oakdale and Eureka, California; and in the Granite Falls area of Washington from 1975. He is survived by his four children, Kathleen Louise Roberts, David Michael Roberts (Patricia), Larrilyn Kay Lindquist (Eric), and Christopher William Roberts (Julianne); his twelve grandchildren, Matthew Lindquist (Lesli), Saul Roberts (Linsey), Samantha Moore (Matthew), Nicole Lindquist (Mark), Sarah Roberts, Jonas McCray (Lacey), Krista Lindquist, Malia Hollinger (Joshua), Joshua Lindquist (Eunice), Jessica Lindquist, Garth Lindquist, and Joseph Roberts; and seven great-grandchildren, Ashley Moore, Willow Anne Moore, Ari DeLeo, Hurley Hollinger, Gia DeLeo, Zara McCray, and Ariya McCray. David William Roberts graduated from Grand Marais High School in Grand Marais, Michigan. He attended one semester at the University of Michigan before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served on the U.S.S. Whitley. During a long, exciting life, he was a construction worker, a dairy farmer, a long-haul truck driver, a salesman, a building supply store manager, an EMT, a freelance photographer and writer of articles. He and Willo traveled to every state except Hawaii. He was an avid bowhunter for many years, although he seldom brought home any meat--he just loved to be out in the woods. He read widely, with a particular interest in science fiction and historical works. His distinctive bass voice made him in high demand in church choirs. He could take apart and put back together machinery that everyone else had given up on. He loved his church, Emmanuel Baptist of Snohomish, and being of help to his family and friends. His defining characteristic was his relentless faith and optimism. He charged into situations where other people hung back, and he dragged the rest of us out safely behind him. The memorial service will take place on June 20, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2727 Lake Avenue, Snohomish, Washington.