Tommy (Tom) R. Roberts
March 12, 1932 - May 9, 2015
Tommy (Tom) R. Roberts, 83, of Warden, Wash., passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 9, 2015 at his home. He was born March 12, 1932 in Omaha, Ark. to Carl Elmore Roberts and Jewel Athlene Jones. He had two brothers, Carl E. Roberts Jr. and Mike Roberts, as well as his three sisters, Wanda Quick, Judy Lawson and Donna Nelson.
He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1948, serving until honorably discharged as an Airman First Class on Sept. 26, 1952, having received an Army of Occupation Medal - Japan and a Korean Service Medal. He married Deloris Ann Baldridge on Oct. 11, 1952. They had two children, Marsha Ann Roberts (Black) and Tommy R. Roberts II.
He worked on aircraft at Douglas Air and later became a journeyman tile setter, teaching the trade at South Seattle Community College for nine years before becoming the tile setting instructor at Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake, from which he retired in 1994. He was a continuous member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers for 53 years. During his career as a title setter, he tiled homes for celebrities such as Donna Reed and Jack Sikma, as well as many other tile-setting accolades.
He loved boating, and fishing and was an avid golfer, having lived at Sage Hills Golf Course for the last eighteen years. He was also a member of the VFW and previous members of the Elks and Moose Lodges.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Marsha A. Black; his wife of 44 years, Deloris A. Roberts and brother Carl E. Roberts Jr.
He is survived by his son, Tommy R. Roberts II; granddaughters, Sonia M. Black and Sarah A. Black; a brother, Mike Roberts; sisters, Wanda Quick, Judy Lawson and Donna Nelson; two great granddaughters, Hannah E. Davis and Emma J. Davis; a nephew, Jeff Roberts; and niece, Cynthia Roberts; and several great-nephews and nieces.
Join us in celebrating his life, Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. at his home at Sage Hills Golf Course, 10987 Handicap Dr. SE, Warden, Wash. 98857.