Wendell Earl Roberts, age 81, of Harrisburg, passed away at 6:30 AM, Friday, September 9, 2022 at Saline Care Center in Harrisburg.
Wendell was born on September 17, 1940 in Harrisburg, to the late William “Bill” Hugh and Freda (Pankey) Roberts. On October 26, 1974 he married Lela Frances “Frannie” Mason and she preceded him in death on March 21, 2018. Wendell worked as the Assistant Circulation Manager for the Harrisburg Daily Register; in maintenance for the A.L. Bowen Center and most recently he retired from the Illinois Department of Corrections where he also worked in maintenance. Wendell was a member of the First Baptist Church of Harrisburg. He was also a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the Harrisburg Masonic Lodge #325, the Old Friends Gospel Choir, and the Southern Illinois Homecoming Gospel Choir. Wendell and Frannie were avid antiquers and world travelers. The last trip they were able to take was to Dubai, to visit Frannie’s niece Theresa Lynn Amer and her husband Ali.
Wendell is survived by his niece, Janie Fields and husband Bob of Harrisburg; great-nephew, Danny Hutchinson of Harrisburg; great great-niece, Rachel Hutchinson of Harrisburg, and great great-nephew, James Hutchinson of Harrisburg; nephew, Larry Wayne Miller and wife Natalie of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and great nephews, Anthony Miller and Daniel Miller both of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sister-in-law, Carol Foster of Harrisburg; nephews, Joe Page of Elizabethtown, and David Page of Americas, Georgia and niece Debra Wallace and husband, Mark, nephew Brian Mason and wife Jan; and special friends, Steve Sweat and Gina McClusky, and Wendell and Frannie’s “little baby” Chloe.
In addition to his wife, and parents, Wendell was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Jane Roberts Fulkerson and her husband Roy; paternal grandparents, Leslie and Lacie (Potter) Roberts; maternal grandparents, Elva (Hicks) and Charles Pankey; father and mother-in-law, James and Roberta (Fritts) Mason, sister and brother-in-law, Thelma and Bernie Crain; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Delores Mason and brother-in-law, John Mason and special friend, Roxann Keasler.
Funeral services for Wendell Earl Roberts will be held at 2 PM, Monday, September 12, 2022 at Stricklin Funeral Home in Harrisburg, formerly Reed Funeral Chapel. Rev. Scott Johnson will officiate and burial will follow in Sunset Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Frannie Roberts Scholarship Fund for Cosmetology at Southeastern Illinois College. Visitation will be held from 5 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Stricklin Funeral Home in Harrisburg with Masonic rites at 7PM.
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