William Leander Roberts

William Leander Roberts ABINGDON, Va. William Leander Roberts, age 81, went to be with the Lord Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Johnston Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. Mr. Roberts was born and lived his entire life in Washington Co., Va. He was a graduate of Bethel High School. He was an employee of the Virginia Department of Highways for 36 years, serving as inspector and maintenance supervisor for Washington and Smyth counties. He was a member of Abingdon Baptist Church, the Harry Denton Sunday school class and the Liberty Hall Masonic Lodge No. 104 in Damascus, Va. since 1954. He was preceded in death by his parents, Noah Roberts and Eula Denton Roberts. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, June Allen Roberts; daughter, Diane Roberts Ivey and husband, Jim, of Kingsport, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Drew Ivey of Fort Worth, Texas, Jennifer Ivey Gill and husband, Scott, of Fort Worth, and Julia Ivey Smith and husband Will, of Crossville, Tenn.; five great- grandchildren, Noah Ivey, Eli Ivey, Jacob Gill, Caitlyn Smith and Emma Smith. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Wright of Bristol Virginia, and several nieces and nephews. Services for William Leander Roberts will be conducted Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Farris Funeral Chapel, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, with Dr. Steven Pollard officiating. Committal services will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at the funeral home with a Masonic rites service at 7 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mike Hagy, Jim Hagy, John Crigger, Jack Taylor, Jack Necessary, Glen Alan Wright, Denny Farmer, and Gilbert Roberts. Honorary pallbearers will be Cecil Gobble, Ottie Thomas, Dan Stevens, Ray Duncan and Bo Henderson. Memorial contributions may be made to the Abingdon Baptist Church or to a charity of your choice in memory of William Leander "Leo" Roberts. The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Martin Monahan, Home Nursing Service of Southwest Virginia, and beloved friend and caregiver Eula Grant. We would also like to thank our church family and many friends and neighbors for their love and support. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com Arrangements for William Leander Roberts are under the care of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, (276) 623-2700.