ARTHUR HENRY WILLIAM ROBERTS

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ARTHUR HENRY WILLIAM ROBERTS

It is with great sadness that we announce our dear father, grandfather, and friend, Arthur Henry William Roberts (but please call him Art), passed on April 25, 2019.
He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ruth (Hildebrand); and older brothers, George (Jean), Fred (Irene), and Steve (Hazel).
He is survived by his three daughters, Darlene (Blair), Diane, and Doren, as well as three dashing grandsons, Cody (Haley), Will (Shannon), and Bryn (Rachel); and his lifelong friend of 89 plus years, Bill Taylor.
Art was born to Herbert and Dorothy (Collins) and graduated from Norwood Collegiate. From there, he took evening classes to become an accountant and got his first job at Searle Grain. This was the start of a long and successful career that saw him retire in 1989 as Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of Manitoba.
Art and Ruth met at Searle Grain in 1952, were engaged in 1953, and were married in 1954. They had Dar, and then Di, and thought they were done until Do surprised them.
Music and entertaining were both passions for Art. When the girls were young, he used his own large music collection to DJ local dances and make sure his Ruthie got to dance to her favourite songs. When they moved to a larger house, they relished the opportunity to expand their legendary Christmas Eve parties. It is still unclear how guests found space to walk around, as the basement with both orange walls and carpet was filled to the brim with food. Art was famous for his barbecued pork tenderloin, sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, meatballs, and for making sure his daughters kept everyone's drinks full. If you asked him, Art was an excellent curler and bowler. If you checked the standings, it at least kept him busy and active. He did both into his 70s and his quick wit made him a popular figure around the rink and the lanes.
After retirement, his next title was Grandpa. His grandsons were absolutely spoiled rotten, and never went anything close to hungry. Grandpa and Grandma were chauffeur and babysitter extraordinaires, so dedicated to making sure you got to hockey practice on time that they were never less than a half hour early. Always telling them to "be relatively good", Grandpa was an excellent role model on how to be kind, how to treat people right, and how to tell bad jokes.
Always a charmer, Art's social gifts were still on full display when they moved to the wonderful community at 20 Fort Street. He played cribbage and bridge, called bingo, and happily joined in on trips to the casino. His friends and neighbours in the building were a great support after Ruth passed on, and his family always truly appreciated that.
Art spent his final days on the GD-3 ward at Health Sciences Centre. Art's family would like to sincerely thank all of excellent physicians, nurses, aides, and staff for their passion and hard work.
Art will always be remembered for being a kind, funny, and inviting man. He had time for everyone, and was able to make a lasting impression in just the wink of a Lake Louise blue eye. Please feel free to share a story about him over a dark rum and coke in a tall glass, to help keep his memory alive.
We will celebrate his life on June 4 at 3:00 p.m. at Thomson Funeral Home on Broadway.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

THOMSON FUNERAL HOME
(204) 783-7211
Condolences may be sent to
www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

Publish Date: May 18, 2019

ARTHUR HENRY WILLIAM ROBERTS

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear father and grandfather, Arthur Henry William Roberts. Art passed on April 25, 2019, 26 days short of his 90th birthday.
He is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ruth, and we're sure she had the cards ready to play canasta. He will be missed by his three daughters, Darlene (Blair), Diane and Doren, as well as his three grandsons, Cody (Haley), Will (Shannon) and Bryn (Rachel).
Full obituary and service details to follow.
Publish Date: Apr 27, 2019

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 27, 2019, May 18, 2019