Larry Dale Roberts

Larry Dale Roberts, of Miami, a brother, public servant, volunteer and friend passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the age of seventy. Larry was born in Fairland to Charley M. and Delilah Jane (Flint) Roberts on December 21, 1946. Larry graduated from Commerce High School with the Class of 1965. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education from Missouri Southern State College as a member of the first graduating class in 1969; he was also a Veteran of the United States Army. Larry taught school at Ralston, Oklahoma and after returning from his service in the United States Army he worked his way into the Credit Managers position at Westco, he was then was elected and served as the Ottawa County Treasurer for nine years. Larry served for twenty-one years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he spearheaded efforts on the state’s Teacher Retirement System. In Ottawa County Larry was known as a tireless volunteer for Boys and Girls Clubs, Kiwanis Club, Friends of the Coleman Theatre, Miami Main Street, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Education Technology Trust, State Pension Commission, Red Cross, Oklahoma Health Systems Agency, Miami Jaycees, and served as their president, Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home Board and the Ottawa County March of Dimes. He had one time been the operations manager of the Lead-Impacted Communities Relocation Assistant Trust, charged with the voluntary buyout for the towns of Picher and Cardin. Mr. Roberts was the President of the Ottawa County Historical Society for the last eight years and was very active in the Dobson Museum. Larry also served on the Miami Downtown Re-development Authority; he also served as a polling superintendant for the Ottawa County Election Board. He also attained his real estate license. Larry was preceded in passing by his parents Charley and Delilah Roberts and a brother in law Glenn Ashby. Survivors include a sister Linda Ashby of Tulsa, his nieces Brenda Haumpy and her husband Stephen of Sapulpa, Suzan Crowell and her husband Neal of Wichita and Lisa Zumwalt of Broken Arrow, he is also survived by his great nieces and nephews Katherine Ashby and her children Landon, Aiden, Kaylynn, Hunter, Betsy Holcomb, Owen Rankin and his wife Christina and their children Noah and Blair, Megan Zumwalt and Matthew Crowell along with his many friends. There will be a Celebration of Larry’s Life 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at First Christian Church in Miami with Pastors Brian Brubaker and Jerad Joslin officiating. Interment will be at Fairland Cemetery under the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Christian Church’s Building Fund. Friends and family may share memories on Larry’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Larry Dale Roberts

December 21, 1946 - November 11, 2017