Willis L. "Will" Roberts
June 15, 1917 — June 5, 2015
Willis L. "Will" Roberts
Will was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts on June 15, 1917, one of three children of the late Harold "Busty" G. and Emma D. (Wixon) Roberts. In 1931, Harold moved his family to Evanston, Illinois where Will graduated from Evanston (IL) High School, and again in 1938 from Northwestern University. He was a brother in the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and NROTC while studying business at Northwestern.It was here he met his wife Mary Jane "Skip" Ray of Beverly Hills, Illinois.
He worked for the firm of Halsey Stuart & Co. in Chicago for two years, before entering into the United States Navy in 1940.Will proudly served his country during World War II, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander before his honorable discharge in 1945. Initially, he was trained as a Torpedo Officer in Newport, Rhode Island and was assigned to the USS Leary, a WWI era Destroyer, just before Pearl Harbor. He later joined the crew of another Destroyer, the USS Claxton, where he served as an Executive Officer, Torpedo Officer and Damage Control Officer. He spent much of his five years of service in the Pacific Theater, participating in battles from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. In the latter stages of war, Will was assigned to command the USS Wilson which was struck by Kamikaze aircraft, fatally injuring several crewmen, but remained afloat. For his valor and distinguished service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Commendation Ribbon, Philippine Liberation medal, Asiatic Pacific, and Victory Medals.
In 1945, following his honorable discharge, he returned home to his wife and family and joined the investment firm, Eastman Dillon in Chicago. Will and his wife, Mary Jane, raised their three sons in a charming old farmhouse in the small town of Palos Park, Illinois.In 1964 he was made a partner in the firm, moved his office to Wall Street and the family settled in Summit, New Jersey, where Skip and Will made wonderful new friends and began summering in Harwich on Cape Cod.They remained in Summit until Will's retirement in 1975.
Perhaps because of his roots in Plymouth, Will was always drawn to the sea; being on it, being in it, and in his later years, watching it.He loved hosting clam bakes for his extended family in the backyard on Ayer Lane in Harwich Port, and spent many evenings in his favorite chair in Naples watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico.
Will made friends easily and was a good and caring neighbor.He served as president of the Homeowner's Associations in both communities where he had homes, a testament both to the respect of others for his leadership and his commitment to service.Not above a good prank, there are a surprising number of family stories about Will participating in some shenanigans. Stories that always delighted his grandchildren and now delight his great-grandchildren.
He was the loving husband of Skip Roberts for more than 55 years until her death in 1998.After her death, he married the late Lois (Brewster) Roberts, his sister, Virginia's best friend and childhood neighbor on Holmes Terrace in Plymouth. His laughter, generosity and forgiving nature will be sorely missed by his three sons and their families:son Lance M. Roberts and his wife Jackie of Charleston, WV, son James G. Roberts and his wife Jill of Vienna, VA, son Joel E. Roberts of New Hope, PA, former daughter-in-law Peg Roberts of Vail, CO, Grandchild Kerry Roach of Vail, CO, Stephanie Roberts of Seattle, WA, Eric Roberts of Sacramento, CA, Walker Roberts of Charleston, WV, Kirsten Stone of Fairfax, VA, Meredith Roberts of Falls Church, VA, Joshua Roberts of Oakland, CA, and Jacob Azevedo of Orinda, CA.He was the loving great-grandfather of Hunter and Logan Roach, and CJ and Callen Stone.
Services are private. Interment next to Mary Jane on Cape Cod at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
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