John Herbert Roberts Jr., 72, the oldest of 19 children of John and Mildred Bowermaster Roberts, was born June 4, 1935, at Clarendon, Ark. He died Jan. 26, 2008, at University Hospital in Columbia.
Mr. Roberts served in the U.S. Army from April 22, 1956, to April 30, 1978. He served in Korea, Vietnam, Okinawa, Japan, Fort Lewis, Wash., and Germany. He came July 16, 1962, to Fort Leonard Wood. He was a field medic and an LPN. He received the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Combat Medical Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritious Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal.
After he retired, he worked at Phelps County Regional Medical Center at Rolla.
He married JoAnn Wilson on April 9, 1976. They were married 30 years before her death in 2006.
He was a former member of the St. Robert Assembly of God and an active member of the Roby Assembly of God. He gave his time and talents for the church and its members.
He enjoyed gardening and planting flowers with his wife, especially around her fountain.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by parents; a sister, Alice Guthrie; five infant siblings, James Lloyd, Dorothy Marie, Wanda Sue and twins, Mary Jane and Carrie Zane.
Surviving are five daughters, Jeanelle Hobbs and Jeanette Sosebee of Chatsworth, Ga., Cheryl Reinig of Silverdale, Wash., Mary Suire of Murrayville, Ill., and Katrina Weber of Evening Shade; six brothers, Bill Roberts, Roger Roberts, Riley Roberts, David Roberts, Jerry Roberts and Vernon Roberts; six sisters, Brenda Hancock, Ruth Blackburn, Peggy Becker, Linda McRoy, Doris Curry and Beatrice Lindgens of Illinois; 13 grandchildren and eight grandchildren.
Services were Jan. 29 at the Roby Assembly of God with the Rev. Bob Troutt officiating. Burial was in the Palace Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
