Joseph Anthony Roberts Jr.

Joseph Anthony Roberts Jr. Ret Lt. Col. USAF, Born October 29, 1921 Tucson, AZ. Passed Away April 19, 2014 Henderson, NV. A native Arizonan and member of a pioneer Arizona family. Col. Roberts attended Miles Grade School, Mansfield Jr. High School, and Tucson Sr. High School. He enlisted in the US Army at Ft. Bliss, TX September 1939 and later transferred to the Army Air Corps to attend Aircraft Mechanics School in Santa Monica, CA. After graduating he qualified for Aviation Cadet Flight Training receiving his pilot Wings at Williams Field, AZ on December 3, 1942, 9:00 a.m. At 6:00 p.m. he married that evening. He married Jean Driver of El Paso, TX. Active duty flying included many types of aircraft primarily the B-25 Medium Bomber and A-20 attack Bomber. World War II overseas service included the Guam, Saipan and Okinawa campaigns. He was discharged as a Captain in December 1945 and joined United Airlines in San Francisco. Recalled for the Korean conflict he was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippine Islands until 1950. Returning to the U.S. he was assigned to the 25th Air Division at McCord AFB with duties concerning development of early warning radar sites on the Canadian Border. In 1955 he was selected to attend the Foreign Service Institute with the Department of State in Washington D.C. From there he received an assignment as a member of the Joint Brazil /U.S. Military Commission on Rio de Janeiro. He returned to the U.S. in 1960 and joined the Tactical Air Command Headquarters at Langley AFB, Virginia and was placed in charge of developing a computerized team logistical support system for all of the Air Force Tactical Bases. That mission accomplished he retired from the Air force in September 1965. Returning to Arizona he spent 20 years in the Phoenix area as Vice President for Several prominent financial firms including an appointment as Executive Director of the Carefree Arizona Chamber of Commerce. Col. Roberts moved to Cheyenne Wyoming with his family in 1990 returning to Tucson during the early part of 2004 and has resided in Tucson until he and Jean moved to Henderson, NV in 2011. He is a member of the Retired Officers Association, the Order of Dandelions a Military Fliers Fraternity, The Air force Association, the Masonic Scottish Rite and a Shriner. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 10:00 a.m. at FUNERARIA DEL ANGEL SOUTH LAWN, 5401 S. Park Ave. Tucson AZ, Interment with Military Honors to follow at South Lawn Cemetery. Please visit www.funerariasdelangel.com/southlawn.