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WILLIAM ROBERTS Obituary
April 20, 1935 - October 17, 2009
William was born April 20, 1935 to Jewell E. and James G. Roberts at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He lived in his grandmother, Jennie Pittman's house for the first twelve years of his life. From Atlanta he moved with his mother, father and brother to Warner Robins, Georgia, where his father was serving with the newly designated United States Air Force.
The family moved from Warner Robins to Rapid City AFB (later designated Ellsworth AFB). William attended school in Rapid City from the eighth grade through the twelfth grade, graduating from Rapid City High School with the class of 1953.
He moved back to Atlanta with the family in 1953 after a family emergency. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in February 1954. He and Mary Jacqueline Coter of Broxton, Georgia were married September 2, 1955. The marriage lasted until her death in December 2005.
William was active duty Air Force for 23 years retiring in 1977 as an E-6. He then worked for the Merced City School District maintenance department for 18 years retiring at the age of 62 in 1997.He was a life member of the Air Force Sergeant Association and a life member of the Air Force Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jacqueline Roberts; son, Ernest LaRoy Roberts; brother, James Leslie Roberts and parents, James and Jewel Roberts.
He is survived by a son, William Johnathan Roberts of Merced; four daughters, Jenny Faye Case of North Carolina, Diana Makia Lockling of Madera, Melissa Jill Stephason of Madera and Melinda Julie Jones of Dos Palos; two nieces, Brandy Sue and Renee; and a nephew, Paul all of Douglasville, Georgia. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Jewell and Derrick Case, McKenna and Tyler Roberts, Carolynn and Camden Lockling, Casey and Travis Jones and Daniel Roberts and Sierra Stephanson.
Interment with Military Honors will be held in December at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella.
Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.
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