of Benton, AR
November 19, 1920 - December 24, 2013
Orville Roberts, 93 of Benton, passed away December 24, 2013. He was born November 19, 1920 near Harrison, Arkansas to the late A.C. and Mettie Roberts. He was happily married to the late Fae Dean Roberts for 65 years. He graduated from Harrison High School, Ouachita Baptist University, and Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee. He was proud to have served as a Marine Corps officer during World War II and The Korean Conflict and was a member of First Baptist Church in Benton.
Mr. Roberts enjoyed time with his students while serving as teacher, coach, and principal at DeWitt Arkansas, and as principal and superintendent at Paragould School District. He was pleased to serve as an Executive Committee member of the Arkansas Activities Association from 1975-1982.
He was grateful to God for his 31 years of retirement, and enjoyed gardening, fishing, sports, Sunday school class and his family.
He is survived by one son, Don Roberts and wife Cheryl of Springfield, Missouri; one daughter Judy Yearry and husband Allan of Benton; and four grandsons, Baron and Josh Roberts, and Brent and John Yearry.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday December 28, 2013 at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home in Benton (501) 315-4047 with Dr. Rick Grant officiating. Interment will follow at Riverwood Memorial Gardens in Maumelle, AR.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m Friday December 27, 2013 at the funeral home in Benton.
The family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Mission Fund, 211 S. Market Street, Benton, AR 72015.
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42 Condolence(s)
Lanette King Esparza
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Don and Judy,
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Mr. Roberts was truly one of a kind. I knew something was wrong when I didn't receive a card and a note from him this year. He was so great about staying in touch and always had an encouraging word. It's a great reflection on his life that so many people have fond memories of him as both an administrator and a friend.
dixie lane crowe
Sunday, December 29, 2013
only today learn of Mr. Roberts passing. have never forgotten the attention he commanded when he stepped out in to the halls at d.h.s and call you by your last name, you stopped dead in your tracks and started wondering what you had down. i,ll never forget how he carried my saxiphone several blocks at Hot springs while the band was there for competition he was one of my heros God called a great man home
Jean Currie Dabbs
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Betty and Harold Horton expressed my sentiments perfectly. Although in high school, I was so afraid of "Mr. Roberts", I also loved him dearly. One of my memories of him in high school was that he had Jennie Marie Hagan carry all of her books to each of her classes one day so that she would remember to have them with her for future classes. I have thought of Mr. Roberts during these past years and didn't know what happened to him after he went to Paragould. Do we ever need someone just like him in our school systems today!! Good bye, Mr. Robertds. Gone but not forgotten.
Linda Johnson
Sunday, December 29, 2013
I am proud to say that Mr. Roberts was my principal at DeWitt High School. Although I was very afraid of him at the time, I'm thankful for the kind of discipline he used. Wish schools had more of that today. But besides being my principal, he was a friend to my Dad, Eston Parker, who was custodian at the school. I appreciate the respect Mr. Roberts had for my dad and the friendship they shared. In later years, Mr. Roberts shared many funny stories about my dad and I loved visiting with him.
Jo Anne Pearman Hope
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The students at DeWitt High School in the early sixties were fortunate to have Mr. Roberts as a leader and role model. There is no doubt that those of us who became teachers ourselves often used many of his ideas and methods. We all owe a great deal to his influence.
Jo Anne Pearman Hope
Saturday, December 28, 2013
The students at DeWitt High School in the early sixties were fortunate to have Mr. Roberts as a leader and role model. There is no doubt that those of us who became teachers ourselves often used many of his ideas and methods. We all owe a great deal to his influence.
Carol Pollock Hooten
Saturday, December 28, 2013
So sorry for your loss. He was a great influence on all of the students in dewitt and I am sure anywhere he was a teacher, principal or coach.
He was a great influence in my life.
Harold & Betty Horton
Saturday, December 28, 2013
I've had a lot of leaders in my career and many have been highly successful and respected but none anymore than Mr. Roberts. The respect and admiration we had for him is still apart of the lessons of life today that we have been taught. He had a great life, one that blessed many young men and women. Our memories of Mr. Roberts will remain with us forever. When he stepped into the halls of DeWitt High School, there was a respect that Mr. Roberts always had. Don, your dad touched our lives in a way that we are truly thankful for.
Harold and Betty Horton
Jimmy C Rousseau
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Class..Grit...Leader...these are 3 of the things that made him a Paragould icon. He will be missed!! God Bless his family
Terry Rasco
Friday, December 27, 2013
Noticed the obituary today and so sorry for your loss. I really admired "Mr. Roberts" very much, and I know he will be missed. Don, I hope you'll reply with an email sometime (I don't do Facebook, or anything), but i would enjoy catching up after only .....fifty years. I just retired this past October from my architecture firm, and I'm enjoying golf and playing with 7 grandchildren ages 2-10. All live here in LR, so we see them frequently. Warm regards to Judy, and to all your family. With sympathy, Terry
Phil Bridges
Friday, December 27, 2013
I am saddened to hear of Mr. Robert's death. He was a true old-time leader. As principal at Paragould High, you always knew he was in charge and in control. He could inspire confidence with a word of encouragement and absolutely strike fear in your heart with a single glance. He made the world a better place.
Sheresa Smith Exum
Friday, December 27, 2013
Mr. Roberts was a great superintendent for Paragould. He commanded and deserved respect but was friendly and caring. Schools need someone like him these days. Prayers for your family in the loss of a great man.
Rick Wyatt
Friday, December 27, 2013
He was a great administrator for Paragould High School. He had a sense of humor-he had a gift wrapped electric box that would shock you when you picked it up, and because it was gift wrapped you were afraid to drop it. Yes I was one who fell for his prank. I enjoyed knowing him and he is one of a few men that I truly admired! I enjoyed knowing his son Don while at PHS class of 1965.
Betty Carolyn Raines Vickers
Friday, December 27, 2013
The only persons who had more authority in my life besides my Daddy were Mr. Roberts and God! I echo all of the sentiments of my DeWitt High classmates. Mr. Roberts was a man of integrity and taught us how to respect our elders, each other and ourselves. The United States needs more men like him. He was tough and kind and honest and scarry!! But he influenced my life more than he could ever have known.
Larry McFadden
Friday, December 27, 2013
Mr. Roberts was an "old school" superintendent, and the country could use more men like him these days. It was my privilege to work as a high school chemistry/physics teacher with him as our superintendent in Paragould, AR. He was not only a good man to work for, but he was also a dear friend. I regret that I lost track of him after he moved from Conway. I did not know he had moved to Benton, or I would have stopped by to visit while I was in the area. May he rest in peace.
Kathy (Westerberg) Cupp
Friday, December 27, 2013
Paragould class of 1965 sorry to hear about Mr Roberts passing. My mother in laws was lunchroom supervisor under him she really thought a lot of him.
Carol Hampton Rasco
Friday, December 27, 2013
Don and Judy: There are few people whom I have encountered in life outside family members who have influenced me so positively as did your father, MR. Roberts. As someone has already said on this guest book, many of us did not realize how much he influenced us until after we left DHS. To this day I can conjure up his voice down the hallway of the school calling out a compliment or something in the way of an admonishment and I stand a bit taller as I think about it. He helped each of us become our best, we need more MR. Roberts in students lives today. My thoughts are with all of you.
Jim Thomas
Friday, December 27, 2013
Mr. Roberts will be missed. He was always visable, not just in his office, but in the hallways as well. His military service is appreciated and he is another of our national treasures who served during WWII and Korea. To have known him is truly a blessing.
Gladys Campbell McSwain
Friday, December 27, 2013
Prayers for the family. Mr Roberts was a man I respected and admired. I worked in the office and found he had a sense of humor, but when the bell rang for class changes, he stepped in the hall, his demeanor changed. But if you looked closely, you could see a teensy smile at times.
Gladys Campbell McSwain
Friday, December 27, 2013
Prayers for the family. Mr Roberts was a man I respected and admired. I worked in the office and found he had a sense of humor, but when the bell rang for class changes, he stepped in the hall, his demeanor changed. But if you looked closely, you could see a teensy smile at times.
Keith Holifield
Friday, December 27, 2013
We appreciate the dedicated service of Your Dear Father & Grandfather to Paragould School District.
k holifield, PHS Class of 1972
CAROLYN CUMMINGS
Friday, December 27, 2013
I AM SO SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT MR. ROBERTS. WE ALL LOVED HIM AT DEAR OLE DEWITT HIGH BUT THERE WAS NEVER A MAN MORE RESPECTED BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ANY WHERE. ATHEL, MY LATE HUSBAND THOUGHT MR ROBERTS WAS THE GREATEST MAN HE KNEW AND EVEN HELPED HIM MOVE WHEN HE LEFT DEWITT. WE ALSO RAN IN TO HIM YEARS LATER AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE HIM. MY PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AND DEAR MR ROBERTS I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE MANY JEWELS IN YOUR CROWN. REST IN PEACE, YOU LEFT A WONDERFUL LEGACY TO ALL OF US AT DEWITT HIGH.
J D McGhee
Friday, December 27, 2013
He inspired me to be in the education field and I was part of that for 36 years. He will certainly be missed by all
kay( brink) manis
Friday, December 27, 2013
Mr. Roberts and "heavy" on the Mister, really helped me during my years at DeWitt High. He was a man that required respect and nothing less, a great man. If he told me to sit down I didn't look for a chair. You just knew he meant what he said and said what he meant. He was someone that you could look up to. There aren't too many like him left. Integrity, honesty and character all rolled into one.
David Meek
Friday, December 27, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. I worked for Mr. Roberts at Paragould and he was such a good man and taught me so much as a young coach.He was respected by students and faculty alike. This world would be a better place with men like Mr Roberts leading our schools today. May god bless you and give you strength .
Sherry Lamb Noble
Friday, December 27, 2013
Sending sincere sympathy to you in your time of loss. May the memories that mean the most to you live forever in your heart. God bless you all.
Ted Dailey
Friday, December 27, 2013
"Mr. Roberts" is what we called him at DeWitt High School... and he was a man we grew to admire & respect. You knew exactly what was expected from you... and, exactly what you could expect from him! I will forever be thankful for the influence he had on my life. He will be greatly missed!
David Mark Quail
Friday, December 27, 2013
RIP... Mr. Roberts, a friend to so many... a 2nd father to all the kids that passed through the halls of the Paragould Schools. A wonderful man who will be missed. I know very few that didn't think of him with the deepest respect. God bless his family!
Jeanne Willcockson
Friday, December 27, 2013
To the Family....I was a friend of Emmy Witt
who passed away several years ago and
though I knew Mr. Roberts...not like Emmy
did as a school teacher....I just knew that she
would want me to wish your family most
sincere condolences as she thought so very
much of him. I have heard many stories of those
"school days" and so I send my prayers and
sympathy to all of you, too.
Rocky White
Friday, December 27, 2013
Mr. Roberts was a very special person to all the students at DeWitt High School. We didn't know how special until we left DeWitt and faced the world, then we understoofd all the maturation he gave us. I personally always appreciated his military service. Another "Greatest Generation" person leaves us, but none more admired than Mr. Roberts.
Chuck Dudley
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Big O was the best superintendent ever. My Dad, CR Dudley, was on the school board then and thought the world of Mr Roberts. So did I. Prayers with you Judy and Allen, and the rest of the family during the days ahead. All of us that went to Paragould schools back in those days are better for Mr Roberts having been there. God Bless you.
Chuck
Gwen Shankle
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Don,
I was saddened to hear of the death of your father. I could not believe he was 93! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. I wish I could be there and celebrate your dad's life and his entrance to his new home in Heaven. I look forward to seeing him again.
Gwen
Kathi Carter
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Judy
I'm so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing, but it brings back some great memories. Our school
was strong because of good leaders like him.
Kathi (Brown, Martin) Carter
Deborah Eno
Thursday, December 26, 2013
I remember Mr. Roberts from Paragould High. He was a very nice and friendly man that took the time to talk to you. (class of 1978).
Lynn Branch Holzhauer
Thursday, December 26, 2013
So sorry to hear of his passing. I have many memories of him and hanging out at the house with Judy. I will say a special prayer for Don, Judy and their families.
Beverly biggs
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Your were a great man & very respected in the school system. Wish we still had more men like you working for our schools. RIP Mr. Roberts.
Larry W. Moore
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Mr. Roberts tore my butt up more than once in High School. At our Ten Year Reunion in '75 he made a little speech. At the end, he paused and said, "And thank God they weren't all like Larry Moore." He was looking at me and gave me a wink. I never wanted it to show back then, but I loved him, he tried to keep me straight. My condolences to the family. RIP Mr. Roberts
Harry Branch
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Mr. Roberts was a Paragould icon. The name Orville Roberts and the school system were synonymous.
He signed my first teaching contract in 1975. He called me in 2003 to congratulate me on a recent achievement. He had not changed.
I was outside loading busses in the rain. He told the secretary to get me in that he needed me. She did. You did not say no to Orville.
He is among the last of a disappearing group that saw our state`s school through when they had little to work with but grit.
He earned his reward in marines and at the helm of several schools. He will and has been missed.
Good bye.
russell price
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Remember him the mid 60s in Jr.high
Randy
Thursday, December 26, 2013
R.I.P You were always so kind to me. I have often wondered where you were. If only School systems now were like they were when you was a leader, America would be so much Better. I will never forget you as long as I live. Randy Aden . Paragould Arkansas SR 1978
Renee Rogers McClung
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Remembered asa part of my childhood memories!
Dale Greer
Thursday, December 26, 2013
RIP Mr Roberts. You were a great role model for ALL of us at Paragould Schools. Thanks for your service to us kids and to the USA in WWII. God Bless