JOHN FRANCIS ROBERTS

John Francis Roberts dies March 18 [1983]

John Francis “Pinky” Roberts, 65, died Friday evening at the Pocatello Regional Medical Center. He was born to John H. and Laura Adele Fagnant Roberts September 17, 1917 at Kemmerer, Wyoming. He attended school in Blazer, Pebble, Alexander, and at Lava Hot Springs. He graduated at the Lava High School in 1935. From 1935-1938 he attended the University of Idaho at Moscow. On November 23, 1945 he married Afton Titus in Pocatello. They lived in Lava Hot Springs for 37 years.

Before marrying he worked for Bannock County surveying and mapping farm lands. He also worked in the shops for the Union Pacific Railroad in Pocatello and for Airesearch and Manufacturing Co. in Hawthorne, California. After his marriage, he was employed as an agricultural instructor teaching an on-the-job training course. He had been engaged in farming for the past 35 years and also worked for the Lava Post Office as an RFD carrier for 25 years. He was secretary and bookkeeper of the Topaz Irrigation Company for many years.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 in the South Pacific as a control tower operator. He was a charter member of the Lava Chapter No. 27 of the Disabled American Veterans and was a member of the American Legion Post 88. He had also belonged to the Lava Lions Club. He liked to fish, hunt, bowl, and golf.

He is survived by his wife, Lava; two daughters, Christine Roberts, Lava, and Mrs. Gerry (Paula) Neeser, Pocatello; two son, John D. Roberts, Chesterfield, and Paul B. Roberts, Chubbuck; seven grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Phillip (Marguerite) Grant, and one brother Albert E. Roberts, both of Lava. He was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph P. Roberts, and one sister, Mrs. George (Ellis) Sabo.

Holy Rosary was recited at Our Lady of Lordes Catholic Church at Lava Hot Springs on March 21. Funeral services were on Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes with Father Roger P. Letourneau officiating. Burial was in the Lava Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion Post 88.