Wilbur 'Bill' H. Roberts Jr. Obituary (1950

After a brief battle with cancer with friends and his wife by his side, Wilber H. "Bill" Roberts, Jr went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Memorial service will be Friday, November 12th, at 11:00am with reception to follow at Brookside Funeral Home in Ellensburg. Bill was born on September 21, 1950, in Camden, New Jersey to Wilbur H. Roberts, Sr. and Helen Harduk. Bills early years were spent in New Jersey. He then moved to Delaware where his paper route afforded him new school clothes. He worked at a pharmacy during high school, graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1968. Bill was baptized as a teenager. He worked security at a mall while attending Brandywine College, he took business courses there and graduated in 1974. Bill worked at Taylor Honda learning about motorcycle repair which became a livelong skill. Bill moved west, landing in Ellensburg in 1982. He worked several jobs, including a job at the west interchange, for Bernie and Frieda Snyders mini mart. Bill joined the City of Ellensburg Police Department reserve program where he learned to run many instruments, patrol, and do vehicle repair. He did downtown parking patrol, security at games and at the Kittitas County Fair where he was honored to meet and shake Johnny Cashs hand after a concert. He also worked for the Cle Elum Police Department. Bill met the love of his life, Judy, in 1985. They were married in June of 1986, enjoying 35 years of happiness. Had trips to Delaware, Victoria, BC, Long Beach, and Leavenworth, WA taking their beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgis whenever possible. They had horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and ducks on their acre of land. Bill joined the Kittitas County Sheriff Department, working in corrections with Jan Tweedie and graduating from correction academy in September 1986. He went on to become a Patrol Deputy, graduating from the academy in April 1989. Bill retired in February 2000. He enjoyed working with the public teaching a bicycle helmet safety program in the various schools. He was able to join Kittitas School children on their annual Kittitas to Vantage bike ride for several years. He also was involved in Child Seat Safety program. Bill enjoyed working with the different departments and the Washington State Patrol. During this time, he trained and ran 5Ks. After retiring, Bill worked at the Yakima Immigration office from 2000 to 2002. He met and went to work for Andulis, a compliance company hired by the government to check INS offices. Bill was able to travel around the United States checking these offices, seeing several cities. He enjoyed meeting new people. Bill worked for the Kittitas County Weed Board obtaining pesticide licenses and working with farmers and the public. He worked for the City of Ellensburg at the Racquet Center. Bill taught Sunday school, played drums with the Court House Christmas band, played his bass guitar with several church worship teams, repaired and rebuilt computers for friends. He loved to tinker. He worked on friends motorcycles doing repair and maintenance. He met longtime friend, Pete Schuetz and family at the computer store on Pine Street in 2002 while learning about computers. Bill enjoyed cooking at the old Moose Lodge on Bingo Night. He worked/learned at the Copper Kettle. He loved baking huge cookies at the restaurant and enjoyed sharing his cookies with many friends in the community. He had found his niche. Bill was baptized again at Wellspring Christian Fellowship, Ellensburg, on November 1st, 2020. Bill always looked to see when he could help someone, whether a dollar, a cookie, a prayer, or a smile. Bill loved the Lord and encouraged those he met during his cancer treatments. Bill was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his wife Judy Jo, Ellensburg, sister Donna Jeandell, brother, Ken Roberts of Delaware, aunt, Ann Harduk, cousins, Jackie Smith, Penny & Mike, Jim Harduk of New Jersey, Valerie of Pennsylvania, nieces and nephews of Delaware, father-in-law, L. Wayne Johnson, sister-in-law, Linda Johnson of Ellensburg and good friends, Pete and Evie Schuetz family. Judy extends her sincere appreciation and thank you to Pete and his family for their help and support through this challenge. Memorial contributions in Bills honor may be given to the church of your choice or Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, 19344 Innes Market Road, Bend, OR 97703. Or extend a helping hand to a child or adult in need of Christs love. I love you and miss you. Til, we meet again at heavens gate, my love A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 12, 2021, at 11:00 am at Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory, 500 E., Mountain View Ave., Ellensburg, with fellowship and reception immediately following. Click to View LIVE Service Celebration of Life Brookside Funeral Home and Crematory (Ellensburg) Friday, November 12, 2021 11:00 AM PO Box 577 Ellensburg, Washington 98926