Richard Carl McRoberts

1916 - 2016

Richard Carl McRoberts

Richard Carl (Dick) McRoberts went to his Lord peacefully on September 2, 2016 in Seattle, three months after his 100th birthday. He was surrounded by those who loved and cared for him.

He was born on May 16, 1916 to Harry and Antoinette (Tena) McRoberts in Tama, a small town in rural central Iowa. As a small boy his father taught him the alphabet backwards, causing quite a commotion in elementary school. Perhaps this was an indication of things to come.

Dick graduated from Tama High School in 1934 in the midst of the Depression and worked for a year digging postholes before enrolling in Iowa State University. While pursuing his academic goals he was active in track and field and was president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While at ISU he met Barbara Churchill, who was studying Bacteriology. She was the love of his life and they were married in April, 1941.

Prior to marriage, Dick worked for Lyon Metal in Aurora, IL, and took flying lessons, becoming a licensed private pilot. This resulted in a lifelong love of flying and airplanes. He was then able to enlist in the Army Air Corps in 1942 during WWII and served as an aircraft maintenance officer until early 1946. He was stationed primarily at Wright-Patterson, Dayton OH, and Muroc (Edwards), CA. Following his discharge he went to work at Twin Disc Clutch Company in Rockford, IL. Dick worked in service, sales and marketing positions until his retirement in 1978.

Dick and Barb travelled the country in their Airstream trailer during their retirement years, enjoying the fellowship of the Wally Byam Airstream Club. Through the years they lived in Rockford IL, Racine WI, Lacey WA, and in several retirement communities in the Seattle WA area.

Dick had a variety of interests. He was an amateur (HAM) radio operator and private pilot, enjoyed camping, and sang in church choirs. He held several patents, was very interested in photography, pursued driver training with an emphasis on teaching fuel economy, and swam frequently until age 99. He had a wonderful sense of humor and beautiful singing voice.

He had a special affection for libraries, airplanes, boats, trucks, tractors and anyplace that had a copy machine, paper clips, rubber bands, black electrical tape and boxes.

Dick was preceded in death by Barbara in 2010 after 69 years of marriage, his parents and his brother Harry McRoberts.

Dick leaves behind his three children: daughter Carol McRoberts of Seattle WA; son Jerry (Louise) of Franklin IN; and daughter Cindy McRoberts (Ed Walker) of Seattle WA; grandchildren Diane and Michelle Thompson, Brian and Mike McRoberts; and great grandchildren Michael Lucci, Donovan Thompson, and Joshua, Matthew, Mason, Caroline, and Carter McRoberts.

A special thanks to the Foss Home and Village, and the Sunshine Adult Family Home for their loving care. Also to NW Hospital Palliative Care Services and Providence Hospice of Seattle for their compassionate medical care.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Oct 22, 2016 at 1:00 pm in the Small Chapel at University Congregational UCC Church, 4515 16th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 206-524-2322.

Memorial contributions may be given to Seattle Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 202, Seattle, WA 98111-0202; by phone at 206-788-4673; or online at www.ugm.org, select "Ways to Give."