William Shaffer Roberts

William Shaffer Roberts (Bill), 83, of Mercer Island, WA passed away peacefully Friday, July 26, 2013 at Pacific Regent in Bellevue.

Bill was born February 1, 1930 in Portland, OR to James D. Roberts and Wilma Shaffer Roberts. Bill’s grandfather and grandmother (Willam B. Shaffer and Ida Mae Shaffer) were early settlers of Waitsburg, WA where his grandfather was the president of the Preston-Shaffer Milling, Co. Bill attended Hillside elementary and Lincoln High School in Portland. He attended Dartmouth College, Connecticut Wesleyan and Washington State College where he graduated in 1954 with a degree in Business Administration. He met his wife, Charlene Luckey on a WSU summer study tour in Europe and after graduation they married in 1954 and have resided on Mercer Island, WA.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene and his two children Charles W. Roberts (Chuck) – wife Salina and grandsons Quentin and Tyrus living in the Los Angeles area and Susan Roberts McMaster – husband Ron and grandsons Sean and Alec living in West Seattle.

He started his banking career in 1954 at National Bank of Commerce, stayed through its various successor banks and was a member of the Master Appraisal Institute. He retired in 1986.

Bill’s interests since retirement were investments, stamp collecting, genealogy, bridge, and world travel. He owned and managed wheat farms around the Waitsburg/Walla Walla area.

Bill loved his family and was a kind and generous father, husband and friend to many people.

He was a generous patron of the Seattle Symphony, the Rainier Club, the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. He was a 50 year member of the Washington Athletic Club and lifetime member of the Columbia Tower Club.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either the Waitsburg Historical Society, Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland, the Rainier Club Heritage Fund or a charity of your choice.