William Roberts
William Wesley ‘Bill’ Roberts, Sr. passed away peacefully at his home in Lawrence, Kansas on Monday, April 27, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 8, 1938 in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of William David and Inez (Burkhart) Roberts. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1956.
After a few miscellaneous jobs, he joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in 1963 as a welder, where he was a sixty-three-year member at the time of his death. He served as business manager for six years for the Local Union 763 in Lawrence, Kansas. After the Kansas locals all merged, he became a member of the Local Union 441 in Wichita, Kansas.
Bill raised Angus Cattle on his farm until 1991. After his retirement, he enjoyed fishing with family members in Missouri, Arkansas, and at the local lakes.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Patricia (Wenger) Roberts, of the home; daughter Vicki Karnes (Howard) of Murrysville, Pennsylvania; son Bill Roberts, Jr., (Natalie) of Pomona, Kansas; daughter Susan Doughty (Steve) of Manhattan, Kansas; step-son Douglas Bahnmaier (Kim) of Lecompton, Kansas; step-daughter Shari (Bahnmaier) Hart of Lawrence, Kansas; nine grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
Per his wishes, cremation is planned with a private burial to take place at a later date.