Jack was born April 17, 1928 to William and Flo Roberts of Naches Heights, the youngest of three. He was preceded in death by his brother Bill and sister Alta Jean (Wahlquist) Hendrick. Jack attended Highland High School and graduated from Yakima High in 1946. He was a sprinter in track and field but favored and excelled in baseball. He boasts that he once struck out 19 batters in a single game.
Jack married Patricia Jane Sullivan on November 12, 1949. They were married for 54 years before her death in 2004. They celebrated their lives with four sons and a daughter. He is survived by all of his children and their spouses: Tim (Karen) Roberts, Susan (Carl) Youngstrom, Mark (Gina) Roberts, Brian (Darcie) Roberts, and David Roberts (Dondi Cupp). He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Carly Carter, Brandon Roberts, Derek Vetter, David Roberts, Michael Vetter, Lauren Roberts, Anthony Roberts-Cupp, and Jack Roberts, and four great grandchildren: Blake, Stella and Brady Roberts, and Fiona Dunlop-Vetter.
Jack worked for the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries in Eastern Washington as a supervisor. He retired in 1992 after 25 years of service.
Dad was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and attended daily mass for many years. He was welcomed by his many coffee “buddies” as they gathered at McDonald’s after mass. We extend our gratitude to the coffee crowd for their friendship.
Jack enjoyed golf at the Elks Golf club, of which he was a member, and played two to three times a week until his 88th birthday. He shared three generations of play occasionally with his sons and grandsons. Dad loved the Yakima Valley and spoke frequently about Yakima being the “prettiest place on earth.”
Our family would like to extend our thanks to the caregivers at Fieldstone Orchard West and Fieldstone Adult Family home, and to include the nurses and doctors from Virginia Mason Hospice Care. Their care and kindness to dad in his last months provided comfort not just to him but to his family. We also thank Trudy Ledwich for administering communion to dad every Sunday and to his friend and neighbor, Dolores Brusic, for her years of companionship.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 10:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, dad asked that donations be made to La Salle High School, 3000 Lightning Way, Union Gap, Washington 98903.
Fond memories and expression of sympathy may be shared at www.lepfuneralhome.com.
