Obituary

Local civic leader and philanthropist J.B. Roberts, 93, died Friday, October 14, 2022. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home, where the family will receive visitors from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Memorial services are scheduled at First Baptist Church in Plainview, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, with Dr. Jacob West, Pastor; officiating. Interment will follow at Plainview Memorial Park.

He was born J.B. Roberts on July 19, 1929, in Quanah, Texas, to Jesse Elvis and Orene Geneva Bonds Roberts. In 1938 they moved to Plainview where J.B. attended Plainview High School, graduating in 1947. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University in 1950. He also did graduate work at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in 1951.

J.B. married his high school sweetheart, Ramona Faye Curry, March 24, 1951, and the couple settled in Plainview where J.B. was a special agent for Home Insurance, was employed by New York Fire Insurance Company, then in 1963, started his real estate firm, J.B. Roberts & Associates, offering residential and commercial real estate, property, farm and ranch management, construction, and investments. In 1992, he turned his business over to his sons, continuing to work in a semi-retired capacity at The Roberts Companies. During his career, Roberts was active in a number of professional organizations.

Roberts had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Plainview since 1944 and was ordained as a deacon in 1959. He served in various capacities through the years: Sunday School superintendent as well as Sunday School director, and served on budget, personnel, finance and pastor search committees and was chair of the building committee for the Family Life Center. He was president of FBC Men’s Brotherhood and chair of FBC deacons.

His religious support extended to serving as an officer of Gideon International, chair of the Wayland Baptist University Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the Hawaiian Baptist Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A proud patriot, Roberts received a direct commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1951 in the Office of Special Investigation. He attended FBI School in Washington, D.C., with the Office of Inspector General, served in the Strategic Air Command stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, LA, then received an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in 1953.

From 1953-1971 Roberts served in the Civil Air Patrol Reserve. He wore the silver wings of a CAP pilot, having held a private pilot’s license since 1946. He received an Honorable Discharge as a major in USA Air Force Reserves in 1971.

J.B. became a member of the Plainview Rotary Club in 1958 and was an officer and served on the board of directors since that time. He was a charter member of the Rotary International, was named a fellow of the Paul Harris Society multiple times, and received numerous awards and honors for his service to Rotary. He was Past Governor of Rotary District 5730 and in 1998, Roberts founded Hunger Plus. He also was chairman of the Hunger Plus board of directors.

Roberts and his wife, Ramona, loved history. That interest was reflected in memberships in the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association, Gone to Texas Pioneer, Jamestowne Society, National Society of Magna Charta, Presidential Families of America, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Texas First Families and West Texas Pioneer among many.

A longtime and dedicated Plainview civic leader, the scope of his involvement is notable. J.B. was an officer in the Chamber of Commerce, Plainview Country Club, United Way, Haynes District Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts Camp Rio Blanco, Plainview High School Booster Club, Plainview Cemetery Association, Hale County Historical Commission, Plainview/Hale County Airport Board, Buckner’s Children’s Home, Plainview Community Concert Association, Plainview Symphony, Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation, Lonetree Recovery Center, Prairie House Living Center, and Salvation Army.

J.B. received numerous awards recognizing his dedication and support of various organizations and causes through the years. Those included recognition from the State of Texas for the Airport Board and Hunger Plus, from Texas Real Estate Commission for 50 years as a real state professional, from the John Ben Sheppard Public Institute, Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Transportation Federal Aviation Administration for 50 years of Piloting with no accidents. His plaque was placed on the Plainview Centennial Circle of Honor, he was a life member of the Salvation Army and a member of the YMCA Century Club. Having established Hunger Plus, Inc., Roberts received a certificate for caring for the poor presented by Operation Care Dallas.

In 2011, Roberts was named the Plainview Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.

Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ramona and a grandson, Thomas Curry Roberts.

Survivors include three children, Randall Curry Roberts and his wife, Ruthie, of Plainview, Sarah Faye Roberts Westmoreland and husband, Greg, of Lubbock and Drury Bonds Roberts and partner, Brian Thomas, of Oklahoma City; five grandchildren, Jessica Ann Roberts Martinez and Rachel Victoria Roberts Beutz and husband, James, all of Lubbock; John Garrett Estes and wife, Tammy of Lubbock, Erica Faye Estes Pigg and husband, Jarret, and Joanna Brooke Estes Walden all of Turkey.

Great-grandchildren are Sky Meredith Roberts, Isabella Lucia Martinez, Chloe Elizabeth Martinez, Mila Estelle Beutz, Madison Faye Pigg, Chance Clinton Pigg, Allie Belle Pigg, Charles Cole Walden II, and Carson Gage Estes.

Also surviving are two cousins, Carl Bonds of Richardson and Norma Bonds Spaulding of Plainview.

Pallbearers will be Gene Arrington, Jodey Arrington, James Beutz, Carl Bonds, Garrett Estes, Mike Hutcherson, Larry May, Rick Mozley, Chance Pigg and Jarret Pigg.

Donations in J.B.’s memory may be made to First Baptist Church, 205 W. 8th Street, Plainview, Texas 79072 or Rotary Club of Plainview, P.O. Box 964, Plainview, Texas 79073.