John Arthur Roberts

John Arthur Roberts died on June 19, 2026 in Tualatin, Oregon of heart failure.

Born September 5, 1937 in Eugene, Oregon to Walter and Alvena (Soots) Roberts, John was a life-long Oregonian, residing in Blachly, where he was raised as the youngest of four children; Eugene, where he met and married Thelma Brown, his wife of 60 years and together they started their family; Detroit, where he began his 23-year career as a heavy duty mechanic for the U.S. Forest Service; and Enterprise, where he lived for 45 years before relocating to Tualatin in 2023. John had a hand in many things, with interests ranging from hunting, boating and waterskiing, piloting small aircraft, woodworking, motorcycling, and RV-ing, to serving as a volunteer EMT, ambulance driver and first-aid instructor. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Girl Scouts, and a member of the Wallowa Assembly of God church since 2011. He was especially proud of his service in the U.S. Navy. He retired after serving as an Engineman 1st Class (Diver) for 31 years, including 29 as a reservist. He loved to swap stories with everyone he met, tell jokes, and entertain his daughters with tall tales from when he “lived in the Orient and worked for the queen.”

John is survived by his wife, Thelma, of Salem, daughters Paula Hancock (Travis) of Pendleton, OR, Laura Packard (Richard) of Bremerton, WA, and Jennifer Kelson (Stephen) of Beaverton, OR, his grandchildren: Trevor (Lindsee) and TJ Hancock, Andy and Anna Packard, Annika, Parker, Levi and Ethan Kelson, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, (Walter) Lee Roberts, Melvin Roberts, and JoAnn (Roberts) Williams.

John will be laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Westside Cremation and Burial Service.

A memorial service will be held August 1, 2026 at Springfield Elks Lodge #2145 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations made in honor of John to Housecall Providers Hospice (www.housecallproviders.org/hospice).

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