Rev. Donald Llewellyn Roberts

Donald Llewellyn Roberts, age 92, of New Brighton, passed away on January 3, 2023. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on March 29, 1930, son of the late Llewellyn and Mabel Roberts, Don graduated from Bassick High School in 1948. He also graduated from Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois; Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts; as well as the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, Don received his doctorate degree from Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey. Don served as a pastor in Millgrove Bible Church in Alden, New York; Madeira Baptist Church in Madeira, Ohio; Black Rock Church in Fairfield, Connecticut; First Baptist Church in Corvallis, Oregon; and Glastonbury Community Church in Glastonbury, CT. In later years, he also served as interim pastor at Grace Church, an Evangelical Free Church in Wyoming, MN and Stillwater Evangelical Free Church in Stillwater, MN. Don and his wife, June Phyllis Roberts, were married for more than 67 years. Together, they often described their ministry as one of preaching, teaching, and reconciliation.
Prior to his military service, Don worked at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut. He then served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Japan during the Korean war. He was a frequent contributor to numerous publications and authored three books. His third book - The Persevering Church - published in 2017, represents a diligent work which Don wrote at age 87. Earlier writing pursuits found distinction: Don was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal in 1969 and in 1972 for his writing in the Category: Letter to the Editor by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA. In 1976, Don won the Freedoms Foundation "Principal Award" for the Category: Letter to the Editor. This award carried their highest honor and was also accompanied by the George Washington Honor Medal. Finally, in 1977, Don was awarded the "Valley Forge Honor Certificate" in the Category: Sermons.
An avid sportsman, Don's first love was baseball - favoring his art as a knuckleball pitcher. Basketball, racquetball, and fishing were lifelong interests. A literary man and prolific reader, he was well known for his wit. Throughout his lifetime, Don cherished his many friends across the country.
Don is survived by his wife, June, and three children, Ruth (Bruce) Tharaldson, David (Laurie) Roberts, and Carol Roberts. He was a loving grandfather to Ben Tharaldson, Evan Tharaldson, Julia (Roberts) Satterlie, and Kyle Roberts, as well as a great-grandfather to Caleb and Anna Tharaldson. Don also leaves a beloved niece and nephew, Leslie "Boo" (Robinett) Nuccio, and James Robinett of Trumbull, CT.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Rev. Donald L. Roberts to Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, P.O. Box 67, Valley Forge, PA 19481 or at https://www.freedomsfoundation.org/support/donations/
Alternatively, contributions may be made to Reach Global, an Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) missionary outreach. https://reachglobal.ministries.efca.org/
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 6th at 11:30 a.m. at Stillwater Evangelical Free Church, 7671 Manning Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082.
A private family burial will take place February 7th at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.