James (Jim) Sherman Roberts, 92, of Salem, Virginia passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, January 15, 2017. He was born May 28, 1924 in Gilmer, West Virginia, a son of the late John Sherman Roberts and Ora Fay (Wilson) Roberts and brother to the late Coy Frank Roberts and Mildred Muriel Roberts Vennari. Jim was preceded in death by his first wife of 62 years, Martha Lou Watkins, with whom he had two sons, John Sherman (Shari) Roberts of Fincastle, Virginia and James Randall (Stephanie) Roberts of Ogden, Utah.
Jim lovingly leaves behind his wife, of nearly five years, Roberta (Boyer) Roberts; stepchildren, Rhonda (Wayman) Creger, of Zanesville, Ohio, Cheryl Fischer, of Salem, Virginia, and Jeff (Terrie) Boyer, of Roanoke, Virginia; four grandsons, one granddaughter, three step-grandsons, two step-granddaughters, one niece, one nephew, and numerous great-grandchildren.
Jim was a veteran of the US Navy, serving in the Pacific Theatre during World War II from May 3, 1944 to May 27, 1946. He was a rear gunner on a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. Because of his excellent marksmanship, he was stationed aboard the USS YMS-428, a minesweeper clearing the harbor of explosives. Jim graduated Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, Class of 1953, with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Biology. He managed a hospital lab in Cleveland before pursuing a career with Scientific Products, which included a transfer to the states of Washington and Alaska. After retiring from Scientific Products, he worked for the State of Alaska, overseeing the inspection and quality of all food for consumption in the Anchorage area. Upon his second retirement in 1985, he and Martha moved to Fincastle, Virginia, spending as many winters as possible at their Florida condo until Martha's demise in 2010.
Jim enjoyed a variety of passions in life, including piloting his own planes, collecting guns, hunting big game, and fishing. He told wonderful stories of his time in Alaska and never lost his superior marksmanship skills, as evident by trophy wall.
He was a member of Salem VFW Post 12154, member of Hermon Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Clarksburg, WV and Scottish Rite Valley of Clarksburg, Orient of WV. Jim was a past president and member of Ridge Rifle Club, spending many hours teaching youth the safety and skills he had mastered. Upon their marriage, he became a member of NARVRE Unit 130 to support Roberta's efforts in that organization.
Jim will be forever loved and cherished by those who knew him.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to his physicians for the care he received at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, VA and Gentle Shepard Hospice.
A period of visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at John M. Oakey & Son Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the funeral home following an hour prior visitation with Pastor Walter Wood officiating. A committal will follow the service at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com