Billy Ward Roberts

Billy Ward Roberts, 82, of Dumas, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. The funeral service is scheduled for 2 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Howe, pastor of the church, officiating. Interment will follow in Dumas Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 o'clock until 7 o'clock in the evening on Friday at the funeral home. Arrangements are entrusted to Morrison Funeral Directors. Billy was born on April 24, 1935 in Era, TX to M.H. 'Shorty' Roberts and Margaret 'Bessie' Wylie. When he was 7 years old, the family moved to Dumas where he would attend school and later graduate from Dumas High School. After graduation, Billy honorably served his country in the U. S. Marine Corp. After his service in the Marine Corp., Billy went to work for Southwest Public Service as a lineman where he earned the license of master electrician. He served as a volunteer firefighter for the Dumas Fire Department and later became a full time firefighter where he earned the rank of captain and served as the interim chief. Billy has the distinction of being the first firefighter to retire from the department and was presented with a gold axe for his service. After retirement, he owned Roberts Electric and worked for the Moore County Hospital as an electrician. Billy loved to hunt, fish, reload ammunition and make jewelry out of electrical wires. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dumas. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother: James Roberts; sisters: Dorothy Baldwin, Coleen McAvoy, and Doris Nall; daughter: Lis Vitz. Billy is survived by his wife, Peggy of the home; son: Michael Spake and wife LeaAnn of Columbiaville, MI; daughters: Jeni Janow and husband James of McKinney, Denise Fly and husband Randall of San Antonio, Nita Hutchinson and husband Scott of Lubbock, and Amy Dworkin and husband Mitch of Dallas; brother: Retired Lt. Col Morris Roberts of Green Cove Springs, FL; 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, numerous extended family, and Fred Mostoufi, a forever friend from Lancaster, CA.