George Roberson Obituary - Oak Harbor, Washington | Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home

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Obituary for George Durward "Dur" Roberson

George Durward "Dur"  Roberson
G. Durward Roberson, age 85, was a computer programmer and computer specialist in Oak Harbor, Washington at the time of his death, August 11, 2016. He was an active member of the Lion’s Club since 1960, holding multiple positions of responsibility that included the director of The International Association of Lions Clubs . Dur Roberson, short for George Durward, Roberson was born in Indianapolis Indiana on March 9, 1931 a few blocks from Victory Baseball field, and a few miles from the Indianapolis Speedway.

He was the son of George Luster Roberson and Mary Juanita (Piper) Roberson from Mount Vernon Illinois. His parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana during the depression in search of good jobs. Dur was born at home in Indianapolis and later attended Public School 44, graduating in 1948 from Shortridge High School where he played football and worked for the schools daily newspaper. He played the piano in a professional band. He was active in the Boy scouts, obtaining his Eagle Scout. He delivered newspapers for the Indianapolis News and Star and helped transport reports by motorcycle from the Speedway races to the newspaper on race days. Dur attended Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1952. He married Dorthea Stuhrenberg, a registered nurse, of Chicago Illinois in 1953.

Dur was commissioned in the Navy as a Lieutenant JG after 4 years of ROTC at IIT. His 23 year career in the Navy included Flight training school in Pensacola Florida. He flew multi engine Lockheed P2V Neptune Submarine Destroyers off Aircraft Carriers. Later Dur flew the Douglas A3D Sky warrior, the largest Jet planes ever to take off and land from the Carrier USS Constellation during the Viet Nam war. He obtained his master’s degree from Harvard University in Business. As his career progressed to Lieutenant Commander he was stationed in the Pentagon and later in the U.S. Naval Air Station Ault Field on Whidbey Island. He retired in 1982, but continued to work as a civilian in the same job.

Dur is survived by his son Mark Steven Roberson of Oak Harbor, Washington; his Aunt Elna Sadie (Piper) Pein age 103, a cousin Donald Pein from Oak Harbor; younger brothers Merle Louis Roberson, Lieutenant Colonel, retired of Virginia and Robert Oard Roberson, First Lieutenant, Army from Long Island, New York and various nieces and nephews from Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland.

G. Durward Roberson was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of the International Association of Lions Clubs at the associations 87th International Convention, held in Detroit, Michigan USA/Windsor, Ontario, Canada July 5-9, 2004.

Dur was a member of the Oak Harbor Lions Club since 1960, Past Director, Roberson has held many offices within the association, including Cabinet secretary, zone chair, district governor, multiple district budget and finance chair, multiple district Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) chair and council chair. Additionally he served on numerous committees, was a presenter for leadership training at multiple levels and has 43 years of perfect attendance.

In recognition of his service to the association, he has received numerous awards, including a Guiding Lion Award, and Extension Award, fifteen Governor’s Appreciation Awards, the 100% District Governor’s Award, an MD-19 Distinguished Service Award, the International President’s Award, an International Leadership award, and the Ambassador of Good Will award, the highest honor the association grants its members. He was also named Camp Horizon Lion of the year and is a Lion’s Foundation of Canada Life Member, MD-19 Hearing Foundation Fellow, MD-19 Camp Horizon Fellow, Judge Brian Stevenson Fellow and Melvin Jones Fellow.

In addition to his Lions activities, Past Director Roberson is active in numerous professional and community organizations, including service as the Island County Cemetery District 1 Commissioner, the Habitat for Humanity of Island County Treasurer and on the Island County Veteran’s Memorial Committee. He is also a Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392, Life Member. In the past, he served as a volunteer firefighter, President of the Andrew Jackson Toastmasters, member of the Navy’s Advisory Committee for Retired Affairs, news director of KJTT Radio, Chairperson of the Island County Red Cross Board and as a member of the Island County Parks and Recreation Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee.

The family suggests memorials to the Dur Roberson Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Oak Harbor Lions Club, PO Box 21, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge with Gary Wallin serving as Life Celebrant. Private family interment was held at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Please visit Dur’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, WA.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Durward "Dur" Roberson, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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Affiliations


Air Medal

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

China Service Medal

Habitat for Humanity

Korean Service Medal

Lion's Club

National Defense Service Medal

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

US Navy

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Vietnam Service Medal
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