David Lawrence Roberts, 81, born September 15, 1935 in Mesa AZ, passed away October 12, 2016, 2nd child of Howard LaVarr and Margaret Standage Roberts.
David married Junith Dawn Hancock June 17, 1955, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. He graduated MHS in 1953, received a Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) in Accounting from ASU in 1960, was a CPA, and received a Doctorate of Law degree from U of A in February 1961, graduating top in his class. He practiced law with Johnson, Shelley & Roberts for 20 years, was Mesa Assistant City Attorney for 19 years, President of Mesa Kiwanis Club, and served as Maricopa County Superior Court Judge for 20 years. He was an accomplished dancer, pianist and gardener, and was well known for his “Mr. Rogers” impersonations
Family and Church service were his life. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had a strong testimony of the Gospel and served as President of the Mesa North Stake for 9 years. David served a 2-year mission in the Northwestern States and served with his wife Junith as full-time missionaries in Albania. They both served together at the Mesa Regional Family History Center, and later served together as Area Family History Advisors. David also served in the Mesa Temple as an ordinance worker and sealer.
David is preceded in death by his parents and two grandsons. He is survived by his wife Junith of 61 years; 10 children, Linda Kennedy (Terry), Barbara Porter (Ryan), Donna Millett (David), Douglas Roberts (Pam), Brenda Hatch (Joe), Russell Roberts (Teresa), Stanley Roberts (Crissie), Daniel Roberts (Susanne), Sharla Jordan (John), Spencer Roberts (Brandy); 45 grandchildren; and 29+ great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Howard Jr. and Stephen, and his sisters, Anne Berryman, Jane Millett and Kristen Rogers.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 6-8 PM at the LDS Mesa North Stake Center, 933 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, AZ. Funeral services will be held at the same location on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 10 AM, preceded by a visitation at 9 AM. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Humanitarian Services, c/o LDS Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84604 or United Way, 137 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85201.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 480-696-6883
I have known David for a few years and he was the nicest man. He was very caring. To his family, I’m sorry for ur loss.
Praying for blessings of peace and comfort for your family.
I and my family mourn the passing of one of the greatest Latter-day Saints I have ever known. President Roberts blessed my life in countless significant ways that would take volumes to write about. I served as his stake executive secretary and count that as one of the great privileges and learning experiences of my life. How I loved that man. Heaven has received one of the great and noble. May God bless the Roberts family with comfort and peace.
Brother Roberts and Junith helped our family be able to go through the Temple. He was an extremely giving man ,especially for my husband. Heaven has definitely gained a great man. Love to all of you, in this time of sorrow.
Elder Roberts! You are missed. We had a wonderful time in Albania together and you and Sister Roberts showed us all what REAL dancing is! 🙂 Thank you for your wisdom and counsel. Rrugë të Mbarrë!
We were blessed to know Brother Roberts and belong to Porter Park Ward with he & Junith for many years. He was our home teacher and friend. Heaven gained a great man. Many prayers of comfort and much love being sent to the Roberts family.
I sure loved and looked up to the Robert’s family! He was a great man! And a good dancer. I’ll always remember you, Junith, for your advice at the ball game to double my fast offerings, have faith, do the right thing, and the story about When Queens Pass By. It changed my life. I have passed on your advice several times since, especially in Croatia. We are currently serving in Slovenia. Our best to the family. Marilyn Ray Porter
Love to you all. May the memories of his goodness, faithfulness, and dedication to the Lord comfort you and feel your hearts, minds, and actions with those memories! A wonderful man with a great family!!!
President Roberts had a tremendous impact in my life for good both as my stake president and as a godly man I could look up to. I am grateful that I had the privilege of knowing him. My heart goes out to all of his family.
Worked along side him at the Temple….wonderful Brother.
Always seemed to have a bright smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. Will miss him.
Always giving… I love the Roberts family. I spent three months with Brother and Sister Roberts in Durres, Albania where I witnessed a gentle and kind man care for many people… and Elders. Thank you for your example. Per’ndia me Ju Qoft’ kur Prap’ t’Tako’emi (God Be with You Till We Meet Again).
Joseph Harris
Dear sister Roberts and family,
Familja Kocillari sends their warmest condolences to you. You and Brother Roberts have been a great example to our family. May you have peace and comfort from the Holy Ghost! Hugs!
Pres. Roberts was a great man. It was a pleasure and a spiritual boost to serve in the Stake with him over the years. He has left a great legacy in both his own family and his his church family; both of which are temendous! May the Lord be with and bless his loved ones! Thank you for your testimony and your example.
My condolences to the Roberts family. Pres. Roberts was a true gentleman.
We are so sorry for your families loss, he was a great man and well loved, and we know you will be united again as a family. We pray the Lord will comfort all during this time of sorrow.
Words cannot express the love we have for this man. So many memories. His service in the church and to our family, personally, will never be forgotten.
All our love
Our sincere condolences to the entire Roberts family. David’s life was full of love and service. Such a wonderful example of kindness, patience and dedication.
During my 26 year career with Maricopa County government, the 14 years I spent working with the Honorable David L. Roberts, were the most privileged years! Judge Roberts exemplified a “man of honor” in every sense of the phrase. He always displayed the highest integrity and stood above and beyond reproach. Judge Roberts chose to live a life of high standards – quite an example for others!
In my humble opinion, Judge Roberts truly loved his family, his church and the law – in that order! Our daily routine began with at least one story about one of his ten children! Judge Roberts was a good hearted man and loved his wife and children dearly. Family values were always at his core with his beliefs.
Judge Roberts treated all those who appeared before him at the Courthouse equally, fairly and with respect regardless if they were attorneys, witnesses, litigants, jurors, experts, law enforcement, peers on the bench, bailiffs, court reporters, clerks, janitors, window washers or lawn maintenance folks! Judge Roberts maintained his dignity and regard for appearances at all times, especially when it came to his personal conduct.
It was distinctly my honor to have been in the presence of such a man daily from 1987 until his retirement from the bench in 200l, serving him as his Judicial Assistant. After his retirement I was humbled to be his conduit to his peers on the bench! He would document his adventures on his church mission with his wife to Albania on a quarterly basis and I would make certain the entire bench received the communications! During the ensuing years, I have kept in touch with Judge Roberts. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, I merely sat with him and reminisced about our time working together and some of the interesting cases he heard. As a Jewess, I truly believe that as a dedicated jurist Judge Roberts performed “tikkun olam” – “repair of the world” when he heard cases assigned to him. Especially on the Family Court assignment, Judge Roberts took extra time to ensure that children were taken into consideration (many times personally interviewing them) before making rulings! Judge Roberts confided in me that he felt certain he did his most meaningful work on the bench on that assignment – because he “was helping families”.
May Junith and all of Judge Roberts children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren be sustained by the memories of this gentle man. Judge Roberts memory will surely be a for a blessing to all those who knew and loved him.
Elder Roberts, you will be missed. I will never forget your sweet and kind spirit. My time spent in Arizona with you and sister Roberts was so fun. Sister Roberts, my condolences. Sending love and prayers your way. Sonila and family.
Oh, our world has lost one of its finest in every way “fine” can be defined. It was my privilege to have been one of his friends. I send my love and sympathy from Itah.
President Roberts, Gentle, Kind, & Loving is the Gentleman that we loved. All who knew him were truly blessed by him by his testimony of the gospel and his willingness to share it.
Love & Prayers to your wonderful family ??
Dear Sister Roberts and Family,
We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elder Roberts. You two were a great team and you will miss him greatly. We so appreciated the dedication of both of you as we served with you in Albania. You were such a strength to the Branch in Durres. We are certain there a members in Durres that are still ball room dancing as the two of you taught them. You also were such a strength to the young missionaries. We will always be grateful to you both for you kindness and love. Your testimonies strengthened many. Thank you for your service. Again, we express our love and sympathy.
Presidenti dhe Motra Kinghorn
Our condolences to the family. We loved President Roberts. Much love especially to Barbara and Ryan. Take care! We will be praying for your family.
David was a classmate of mine. He was always well liked and I enjoyed knowing him as my classmate. I also knew Junith , as she was also a classmate of mine. I admired him , he was brilliant even then! I KNOW he will be missed by many and will be greatly rewarded for his Service on earth.
My sympathies to his wonderful family. They will have many happy memories to keep him alive, as when we bring up our loved one’s we also honor them by our devotion and love of what was accomplished by him in his lifetime.
I am really sorry for your lost. But i know that he is in a better place. With people that love him.
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of David. He and Junith helped me reconnect to my family, who I had been separated from as a child. They help me feel connected to something bigger than myself and allowed me to have stories and history to share and pass down to my kids and grandchildren. I pray that someone picks up that torch and does as good a job as they did. Such an important and treasured responsibility.
My heart is saddened by this news.
With love and sympathy.
Kerry, Geoff, Sean, Amanda, Madison, Kayleigh, Benjamin, Abigail, Brooklynn, Brody and Issac