James Talmadge Roberts' Obituary
Jim Roberts was born March 2, 1925 in McCleary, Washington to Cathryn Martin and Tal Roberts. At age 12 the family moved to Tacoma where Jim attended Jason Lee Junior High and Stadium High School. After graduating in 1943, he married Alice Sweeting and they were married for 59 years. He then joined the Army Air Corp’s 8th Air Force and served as a B-17 waist gunner in the 447th Bomber Group during the European campaign of WWII. After the war, he put himself through college at the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound) by working as a salesman at South Tacoma Chevrolet, graduating in 1949. In late 1952 he opened his first car lot on South Tacoma Way. In 1956 he opened a Lincoln Mercury dealership in Enumclaw which he subsequently moved to Auburn. In 1959 he bought the Oldsmobile franchise and by 1963 Roberts Motors was established on Auburn Way North. The Oldsmobile dealership was the staple franchise while he also had purchased Jeep, MG, Triumph, Austin America, Renault, Eagle & GEM franchises as well. For the following 52 years, until shortly before his passing, “Prez” faithfully made his way to the dealership every day.
Jim was a member of the Joseph Warren Masons Lodge #235 Scottish Rite of Tacoma, Afifi Temple of the Shrine, Royal Order of the Jesters, Tacoma Country Club, Tacoma Yacht Club, Afifi Yacht Club, Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Sigma Nu Fraternity.
Jim died peacefully on February 25, 2015, five days short of his 90th birthday. He is survived by his three children, Jim “JR” (Susie), Pat (Carole) and Kelly (Jeff), his grandchildren Hallie, Hanna, Alyssa and Alex, sister-in-law Kirsten Roberts, brother-in-law Herb Sweeting, nephews Don, Craig, David and Matthew, nieces Mary and Milanne and many dear friends.
At his request, private services will be held. Celebration of life reception will be held at 12:00noon on March 2 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 817 S. Vassault in Tacoma. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association.
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