ROBERTS, John R.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 09/01/2015 John R. Roberts was born Dec. 5, 1922, in Atkins, Ark. His family moved to Phoenix when he was 2. He attended Phoenix Union High School and went on to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1943 he met and married his sweetheart, LaWanda. After his discharge from the Air Corps, John became a pioneer in the air conditioning industry in Arizona, eventually forming his own company, Western Aire Heating & Cooling of Glendale, which was for years the largest non-union air conditioning business in the State of Arizona. After retiring from Western Aire, he continued to work as an air conditioning consultant and independent home builder in the Valley. John accepted Jesus Christ as his savior when he was a young adult, and throughout his life, he and LaWanda were committed to contributing to the spread of the gospel through their church and various Christian ministries dear to their hearts. John is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, LaWanda, and three daughters, Judy Dugan (husband Tom), Susan Noll and Sheryl Berentz (husband John). His son, John Jr., predeceased him. He loved his 10 grandchildren, Heather Daughtery, John R. Berentz Jr., Janice Tennison, Shane Roberts, Toby Roberts, Tiffany Roberts Peterson, Rachel McLouth, Heidi Goding, Alexa DeSena and Christopher Noll. He was also blessed with 17 great-grandchildren, William and Lauren Tennison, Shyanne Berentz, Alec, Braeden and Chantelle Goding, Dylan and Jacob Peterson, Ryan Roberts, Ciera and Cheyenne Reilly, Elijah, Hannah and Alysah Noll, and Christopher, Olivia and Sophia DeSena. As a veteran of World War II, John will be buried with military honors at the National Cemetery in Phoenix. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Christian Encounter Ministries, P.O. Box 1022, Grass Valley, CA 95949.