Joseph "John" Roberts

June 10, 1939 - November 27, 2020

John Winfred Roberts June 10, 1939-November 27, 2020 John was a loving Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Papa, Uncle, and Friend Joseph Roberts, known by “John” to his family and friends, was born at home on June 10, 1939 in the Mount Pleasant Community about four miles east of Wickes, Polk County, Arkansas. John’s parents were Wayne and Sarah Lillian “Lillie” McCauley Roberts. John was the youngest of 13 children. John’s father, Wayne, passed away a few months before John was born. According to a family story, John’s older brother, Wayne (Known as Junior), decided to call his baby brother “John” shortly after John’s birth. John spent his childhood and teenage years on the family farm attending school at Wickes. John graduated in 1958 and enlisted in the United States Army. John served his country honorably as a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division. On November 22, 1961, John married Glennis Darlene McCarley, daughter of the late Thomas Nelson and Ruby Baker McCarley, with dear friends, Ronney and Carol Mayo Fields in attendance. After John and Darlene married, they resided at various army bases in the US with an overseas deployment to West Berlin, East Germany. Upon return to civilian life, John was employed with Wickes Telephone Company. At John’s retirement, Wickes Telephone Company had become Alltel Corporation. In addition to his military and telephone careers, John was a lifelong farmer/rancher. John served as a member of various boards, committees and community organizations including Baker Cemetery board, Commander of Wickes American Legion Post 249, Cossatot Senior Center board, Duckett Cemetery board, election poll worker, Lions Club member, Polk County Farm Bureau board, Wickes Nazarene Church board, and Wickes School Reunion committee. John’s passions included his family, church, community, home, building projects, photography, pitching horseshoes, and sports. John patiently and willingly endured many family vacations, even though his family knew he would have rather stayed home on the farm! A joint singing venture, with the daughters of special friends John and Pat Hill and Bill and Pat Stewart, led to many fun times and miles logged as their daughters, Shanna and Jennifer Hill, Kristy Stewart, and Rhonda and Renea Roberts, formed a band, Sweet Success, that played at local events, Magic Springs and the National FFA Convention. John passed peacefully from this life on November 27, 2020 on the same family farm on which he was born and spent much of his life. At the time of his passing, John was surrounded by his loving family. John is survived by his wife, Glennis Darlene McCarley Roberts and daughters, Rhonda Roberts Coon and husband Flynn Coon of Wickes, Arkansas and Renea Roberts Baker and husband Jeff Baker of Atchison, Kansas. Over the years, John’s family welcomed the following grandchildren: Megan Baker of Lancaster, Kansas; Tyler Coon, wife Cortney Williams Coon and great- grandson Luke Coon of Wickes, Arkansas; Micaela Baker Eckert, husband Andrew Eckert, and great grandchildren Rylan and Rhett Eckert of Atchison, Kansas; McKenzie Buttron Rice and husband Michael Rice of Overbrook, Kansas; Austin Coon of Wickes, Arkansas; and Bailey Buttron, Tanner Buttron, and Macey Baker of Atchison, Kansas. John is survived by two sisters – Alta Mae “Maedell” Roberts Ralls of Prineville, Oregon and Margaret Roberts Hull of Denison, Texas and sister in law, Ruby Anita Frachiseur Roberts of Talent, Oregon. John is also survived by a large and loving family of beloved nieces and nephews. Deceased siblings and brother/sister in laws include Idell Roberts Caponi and Joseph Caponi, Wayne Roberts, Charles Roberts, Fred Roberts, Leon Roberts and Allie Dunn Roberts, James Ralls, Wanda Roberts, Lily Jean Roberts Wadkins and Clifford Wadkins, Laura Sue Roberts Shaw and Bill Shaw, Harold Dean Roberts and Juanita Stulken Roberts, Harry Hull, and Mary Ann Roberts Ingram and James Ingram. John’s service will be held at Baker Cemetery near Wickes, Arkansas on Monday, November 30th at 2pm with Brother Leon McCleskey officiating under the direction of Beasley Wood Funeral Home. Pallbearers include Tanner Buttron, Austin Coon, Tyler Coon, Andrew Eckert, Wayne McCarley and Michael Rice. Honorary pallbearers include Roger Cartwright, Larry Cecil, Ronney Fields, John Willard Hill, Mike James, Mike Oglesby, and Randy Sellers. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Baker Cemetery 906 Hwy 278 E Wickes, Arkansas 71973. Arrangements are under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena