Ira Van Byron Roberts 75, of Kingston, Okla. passed away Saturday, November 28, 2020 at the hospital in Durant, Okla. He was born on October 18, 1945 in Hot Springs, Ark. to the late Byron W. Roberts and Earnesteen Jones Roberts.
Ira was raised in Mount Ida Ark.and in 1953 moved to Boron, Calif. where he graduated high school. He joined the United States Air Force, later going to work for U. S. Borax and Chemical Co. and retired from the Civil Services as a Logistics Facility Manager in 2002.
He married Roberta A. Whiteside on December 8, 1979 in Boron and in 2013, they moved to Kingston where he lived the rest of his life. Ira was a member of the American Legion, Mojave Desert Officials Association, Knights of Columbus in Lancaster, California, and the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, anything outdoors. Ira also enjoyed working with leather, making belts and purses, woodworking, and painting.
He is survived by his wife Roberta A. Roberts of Kingston, Okla., his children; Albert Heer and wife Joy of Modesto, Calif., Christe Mazzuchi and husband Frank of Yorktown, Va., David Heer of Madill, Okla., nine grandchildren, and his sister Trecia Chedister of Laurel Hills, Fla.
Ira was preceded in death by his parents, one granddaughter; Eden Mazzuchi and one brother; Virgil Roberts.
Services will be Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Cross Catholic Church (14 W Francis St) in Madill, Okla. Father Oby Zunmas will officiate the service. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Memorial may be made to the St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.