Phillip Eugene Roberts, 80, returned to be with his eternal companion, Muriel, on June 8, 2013. Services will be held in the Elma, Wash. chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013. Graveside services will follow with full military honors at 3:00 p.m. at Finley Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Portland, Oregon.
Gene was born in Granby, Missouri, on January 29, 1933. He was raised in Granby and the neighboring town of Neosho. He was an Eagle Scout and the drum major of his high school marching band. He later attended school in Springfield, Missouri where he met Muriel Kitching, who later became his wife of 54 years. He married his girl on May 9, 1955, at Ellington Air Force Base. Gene received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on their wedding day.