Obituary

VIRGIL BRUCE ROBERTS
(February 2, 1926 - September 13, 2014)

Virgil Bruce Roberts, 88 of Huntington, W.Va. passed away Saturday, September 13, 2014 in the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, Huntington, W.Va. He was born Feb. 2, 1926 in North Braddock, PA. the son of the late John T. and Jennet Edwards Roberts. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one sister, Faith Roberts Gensler; two brothers, John Milford Roberts and Arthur Hannum Roberts. He was a 1943 Point Pleasant High School graduate, a graduate of West Virginia University, graduate of the American Television Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL. on Nov. 11, 1949 with a B.S. Degree in Television Engineering. He was a retired Electronics Engineer at International Nickel Co, U.S. Marine Corp. Veteran where he enlisted on Jan. 20, 1944 at the age of 17. He served in the Pacific Theater during WWII and participated in the occupation of Japan. Virgil separated from service on Aug. 1, 1946 and was recalled to active duty to be part of the Korean War on Oct. 26, 1950. He once again separated from the service on Dec. 9, 1951. He was also a member of the Marine Corp League and member of the Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, Barboursville, W.Va. Lillie Irene Sexton Roberts was 85 and also of Huntington, W.Va. She was reunited with her loving husband, Virgil on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 and made her journey in the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, Huntington, W.Va. Irene was born July 17, 1929 in Bidwell, OH. the daughter of the late George Sexton and Alice Hatfield Rutan. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by one sister, Helen Rutan Greene. She was a 1948 graduate of Gallia Academy, graduate of Holzer Hospital School of Nursing, a retired Registered Nurse and previously worked at Cabell Huntington Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, the former Huntington Hospital and was also a member of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, Barboursville, W.Va. She is survived by three sisters, Virginia Rutan Kirby of Gallipolis, OH, Sharon Rutan Russell of Vinton, OH. and Diana Nibert of Gallipolis, OH; one brother, Sherman Lee Rutan of Bidwell, OH. Together, Virgil and Irene are preceded in death by son-in-law, Charles Jeffrey Conner and one grandson, Brian Phillip Frye. They are survived by their children, Jennifer Roberts Alldredge (Dan) of Evansville, IN, Melissa Roberts Conner of Kailua, HI, Virgil Bruce Roberts, Jr. (Susan Sinclair) of Wilmington, NC, Valerie Roberts Harry (Steve) of Newburgh, IN, Randall Roberts (Rose) of Salt Rock, W.Va; twenty grandchildren, Stephanie Frye Adkins, Jessica Frye Cox, Justin Frye, Samantha, Erin and Joshua Conner, Randalle, Reuben, David and Joseph Roberts, Alison Harry Alldredge, Elyse, Kathryn and Olivia Harry, Levi, Caleb, Luke, Gabriel, Eve and Phoebe Roberts; eleven great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Emmalina, Vivienne, Trevor, Gretta, Tucker, Josie, Bria, Alexus, Christian and Evelyn and a host of family and friends. Joint funeral services for both Virgil and Irene will be conducted at 12:00 noon on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Kozak officiating. Burial will follow in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville, W.Va. The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary, Barboursville, W.Va.