Bill “Pappy” Roberson, 81, Mt. Vernon, passed away at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Mt. Vernon on Saturday, Oct. 2, 1926, a son of William L. and Ora Mae (Farmer) Roberson.

He married Helen C. Piper on Nov. 26, 1944, in Mt. Vernon, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 2002.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with the Rev. Ed Sprinkle officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.

Pappy is survived by a son, Rodney Roberson of Mt. Vernon; daughter, Becky Barbour and husband Dewayne of Mt. Vernon; four grandchildren, Stevie Daniele Roberson of Mt. Vernon, Jason Michael Roberson and wife Amantha of Carthage, Miss., Ashli Rae Shields and husband Paul of Mt. Vernon and Dylan Slade Roberson of Mt. Vernon; great-granddaughter, Harrison Charlotte Shields of Mt. Vernon; sister, Willivene Meador Shelton of Mt. Vernon; brother-in-law, Bob Young of DeSoto, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Piercy and husband Bob of Texas and Regina Piper of Centralia; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents; his wife; one son, Michael DeWayne Roberson; one grandson, Sean Michael Roberson; one brother, William Frost Roberson; six sisters, Ella Fay Roberson (Bill’s twin), Veneta Roberson, Oleta Page Blozis, Wanda Young, Greta Witzel and Mary Bradford preceded him in death.

Pappy was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II; he previously worked at General Tire in Mt. Vernon and was an active member, past choir leader and Sunday school supervisor of Faith Church of the Nazarene in Mt. Vernon. He enjoyed guns and hunting and was a member of the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.

For those who wish, memorials may be given to the Faith Church of the Nazarene and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home where you may call 242-3348 or visit _www.hugheyfuneralhome.com (http://www.hugheyfuneralhome.com) for further information and to send condolences.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: August 26, 2008
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman