Jack Eugene Roberts

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary Chapel. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the chapel, with interment to follow.

Mr. Roberts was a farmer.

He is survived by his wife, Ardith; one daughter, Connie McNew of Grand Junction; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to HopeWest Hospice Care Center, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

Jack E. Roberts, 91, passed away at his home on February 5, 2016. He was born in Nowata, OK, to Al and Bertha Roberts.

Jack went to school in Fruita, Appleton, and Glenwood Springs. In 1942 he joined the Merchant Marines. He was on the S.S. John Page. The ship carried equipment and war supplies to Central America and The Gold Coast of Africa. In 1944 he joined the 15th Air Force Liberator Bomber Squadron Group. He was a tail gunner on a B-24 and was stationed in Italy. Sergeant Roberts flew 50 missions and had several emergency landings.

On a 10-day leave he married Ardith Young on July 6, 1944. It was a month before he went overseas in the Air Force. They honeymooned on the Grand Mesa. They spent 71 happy years together.

During his lifetime he built several homes for his family. He always built the homes while holding down his regular job. Jack farmed north of Fruita and Appleton. Tomatoes were grown for the Kunner factory and sugar beets for Holly Sugar. At that time those factories were in the Grand Junction area. Later he worked as a welder at Miller Steel and at Mid-Continent Coal and Coke in Redstone, Colorado. He then worked at Grand Junction Steel. He retired in 1984 and had heart bypass surgery in 1986.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Ardith; daughter, Connie (Rob) McNew; grandchildren, Tanya (Rory) Cornelison, Andrew McNew, Tasha McNew; and great-grandchildren, Izabella and Nataleigh Cornelison. His son, Dan, passed away in 1992. Brothers, Taylor and Ray, and sisters, Inez and Winnifred, are deceased.

Memorial contributions can be made in Jack’s name to HopeWest, 3090 B N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506.

Visitation will be February 11 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Funeral service will be February 12 at 1:30 pm at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary with interment to follow at Orchard Mesa Cemetery.