Wendell "Robey" Roberson

Wendell "Robey" Roberson, 89, of Enterprise, died Sept. 23 at home with his family in attendance. A small family memorial service was held Sept. 26 at the family home in rural Enterprise.

He was born Feb. 26, 1921, to Albert and Edna (Goodenow) Roberson at Paonia, Colo. He graduated from Paonia High School in 1939.

He moved to San Francisco where he married Mabel "Betty" Dohrer Dec. 19, 1942.

Robey joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and trained as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot. He was assigned to the 366th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force in England and later France, during World War II. He flew 71 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal, 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Unit Presidential Citation.

After becoming a civilian again, he flew with the Air Force Reserve and later with the Idaho Air National Guard as a F102 jet pilot. He retired from the military in 1965 with the rank of major.

He worked for Levi Strauss and Co. as a sales representative. In 1954, he and Betty moved to Boise, where they lived for the next 35 years. His territory included Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho, and he often visited the Wallowa County area and sold Levi's products to Wagner's Men's Store.

He and Betty had one daughter, Wendy, in 1950. They moved to Philomath in 1989 to be close to her and her family. Betty died in 2003, ending 62 years of marriage. Robey joined his daughter's family and they all moved to rural Enterprise in 2007.

Robey's greatest pleasure was his family. Those who knew Robey say he was a loving, playful and kind father and grandfather. He enjoyed reading, listening to music and playing cribbage. His hobby was building model locomotives and later he built a live steam locomotive in 1 1/2-inch to the foot scale. He and Betty took many trips all over the West to gather with friends at live steam clubs to run his engine.

Robey is survived by his daughter, Wendy Reininger and her husband, Bruce, of Enterprise; three grandchildren; sister, Shirley DeMarco of Loveland, Colo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his brothers, Rollin, Edwin and Gary; sister, Patricia; and granddaughter, Andrea Reininger.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Tab Foundation at 1155 Battery St., LSL, San Francisco 94111 or any charity in care of Bollman Funeral Chapel, 315 W. Main St., Enterprise 97828.

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