Obituary: Roberts, William Donald “Bill”
Age 100
Bill Roberts, eldest child of William T. and Alberta (Bootsie) McDonald Roberts, entered life on a homestead near Hermiston, OR on November 18, 1915.
He passed peacefully to eternal rest on April 13, 2016, at the Rockwood South Hill Community Courtyard.
During the 100 year “dash” between those dates, he lived a full and interesting life.
In childhood years on the farm he enjoyed outdoor activities and rode in the Pendleton Roundup Parade.
The family, which then included younger brothers Gene and Jack, moved to Seattle where Bill graduated from Seattle Prep in 1933.
Spokane, home to his father’s family, was Bill’s next move, where younger sister Nancy joined the family.
Graduation from Gonzaga University and its School of Law followed.
Bill met the love of his life, Marguerite McCarthy, and married her after his passing the Bar Exam.
Prior to WWII he practiced law with Marguerite’s father, Joseph M. McCarthy.
Bill joined the U.S Navy in 1942, serving as a communications officer on the U.S.S.
Guadalcanal, which found fame by capturing the U505 German submarine in 1944.
Bill and Marguerite later attended many reunions of the Guadalcanal Task Group in Chicago, where the sub is displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry.
After the war, he joined the family business, Union Iron Works, eventually becoming president.
When the business was sold in the 1960’s, he returned to practice law through the 1980’s.
Bill continued to enjoy a lifelong love of golf, shooting his age at 90.
He was a long time member of the Spokane Country Club and played with the Northwest Senior Golf Association, as had his grandfather, E. J. Roberts.
He had been a duck hunter since youth and could be found at the family duck hunting spot every weekend during the season.
He was well into his 90’s when he had his last shoot.
An active participant in Spokane civic life, Bill was on Gonzaga University’s Board of Regents for many years.
He held membership in the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, the Little Hoover Commission, the Knights of Columbus, and was a past President of the Spokane Club and the Prosperity Club.
He was an Executive Secretary of the Spokane Tax Payers Association.
In the 1950’s he was instrumental in retaining minor league baseball in Spokane.
Bill and Marguerite enjoyed a marriage of sixty years until her death in 2001.
Their surviving children are Tracy (Greg) Keil, Molly (Cecil) Hannan, Mac (Susan) Roberts and Sue Roberts.
Grandchildren are Conrad, Molly Kate, Mimi and Melinda; great-grandchildren Manny, Mia, Miriam and Mina.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers, son-in-law Cecil Hannan, and nephews Bob, Steve and Tom Roberts.
He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Roberts, and many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the caregivers at RRCS Courtyard and Spokane Hospice for their loving support.
Remembrances suggested to Gonzaga University or your favorite charity.
Vigil services will be Friday, April 22, 2016 at 6pm, with visitation beginning at 5pm, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 219 E. Rockwood Blvd., Spokane.
Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 10am and will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: