Timothy Jones Roberts

Timothy Jones Roberts, 93, of Bellefonte, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026. He was a cherished husband, father, and friend whose presence will be deeply missed.

Tim was born on July 9, 1932, in Johnstown, PA to Arthur David and Ora Oleane (Evans) Roberts. He was the youngest of six children and the first in his family to be born in a hospital. Tim was an unrebellious child growing up in nearby Ebensburg, PA, where he would spend weekends at his grandparent's farm outside of town. His childhood nickname was Dutch; at that time, if someone called you Dutch, it meant you were "full of it." In his teens, Dad caddied at the golf course, lifeguarded at the community swimming pool, worked construction, and spent a lot of time running around in the woods. Tim babysat many of his nieces and nephews and was known as the fun uncle. In high school, he excelled at football and basketball.

After graduating from Ebensburg-Cambria high school in 1950, Dad joined the Navy, serving as a dental technician from 1950 to 1954. He served overseas, mostly in the Mediterranean. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Ebensburg and attended the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown and the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry, graduating in May of 1960. Dad was a very proud Pitt graduate.

While in dental school, on May 30, 1958, he married Janet (Sally) Brown, the love of his life. They were devoted to each other for nearly 68 years.

Dad's first job was with the Department of Health, on the Warm Springs Reservation in Warm Springs, OR. After a year in Oregon, Tim and Sally returned to Pennsylvania with their daughters Barb and Cathy, where Dad first set up practice in downtown Bellefonte, then practiced dentistry in his home office for 35 years. He enjoyed the challenge of being a dentist. He liked to "fix teeth and save a mouth" and "met a lot of nice people." Local dentists often referred their patients to Dad because of his skill and reputation for making well-fitting, good quality dentures. He retired in the summer of 2000.

Tim lived a life of service. He served in the Indian Health Service after dental school, taught Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church when he moved to Bellefonte, served as the dentist at Centre Crest, the Bellefonte Area School District, and the Centre County Jail, was a member of the Jaycees, accepted an appointment to the Bellefonte school board when another member had resigned, read to children for Victorian Christmas, read to various elementary school classes, served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bellefonte High School Girls Golf team, and volunteered to repair books at the Bellefonte Library.

Despite nearly electrocuting himself in dental school when cutting through a live wire while attempting to repair a lamp, Dad was quite good with his hands. He renovated a 75 year old house mostly by himself. He built a fiberglass canoe in the garage. Tim did all of the stone masonry (there is a lot!) around the family home. And, he was a skilled woodworker, crafting much of the furniture in the house as well as numerous pieces for friends and family. He didn't know how to do any of these things; he just learned along the way.

Tim came from a musical family. His mother had perfect pitch and all of Dad's siblings played instruments and sang. Though Tim felt as though he was the worst musician in his family, he was talented enough to pass auditions and sing bass with the State College Choral Society and the Madrigal Singers for many years. He also sang with the church choirs while in dental school and his early years in Bellefonte. Music brought Dad much joy throughout his entire life.

Dad started to play golf while in the Navy, and played off and on until 1965 when he joined Nittany Country Club. He was an active member for more than 60 years, serving on the board numerous times, holding the course record for a time, and maintaining a handicap between 3 and 9 for over 30 years. He taught his wife and children to play, and Sally, Barb, and Matt each have won multiple club championships.

Dad had a great sense of humor, even if it was corny at times. He loved nothing more than a good belly laugh and making others laugh. He was also king of the one-liners and was famous for his "Doc"-isms, which will continue to live on.

Tim is survived by his wife Sally, daughter Barbara Ann Roberts of Bellefonte, daughter Cathryn Elaine Roberts of Edmonds, WA, son Timothy Jones Roberts Jr. of Bellefonte, and son Matthew David Roberts and his wife Karen Roberts of North Bend, WA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews who remember him fondly. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Bruce, Marjorie, Ronald, Ruth, and Ora.

A celebration of Tim's life will be held at Nittany Country Club on March 14, 2026, at 1 p.m. The family invites all who knew Dad to attend and share their favorite memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Tim's memory to the American Parkinson Disease Association by going to https://www.apdaparkinson.org/ or the Centre County Library in Bellefonte by going to www.centrecountylibrary.org/donatenow

Arrangements are under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com