William Robert Roberts Jr., 62, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 at his home following a brave battle with cancer.

The people he grew up with in Chanute knew him only as Junior. His work associates knew him as Bill.

Junior was born in Miami, Okla., on July 27, 1947, the son of Bill and Juanita Ford Roberts. The family moved to Chanute in 1954. Junior graduated from Chanute High School in the Class of 1965 and then graduated from Neosho County Community College.

Junior was married to Susan Brophy. They later divorced. He was later united in marriage to Kathryn Swindell. She survives, of the home.

Junior worked for various newspaper syndications for more than 40 years beginning in Evansville, Ind., as Circulation Manager and finally in Broken Arrow, Okla. as Operations and Business Manager.

Along with his wife, Kathryn, Junior is survived by his children, son Brian of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughter Jannette and son Westin of the home; his fathe,r Bill Roberts and his wife, Virginia, of Chanute; and a sister Twila Busse and her husband, Chuck, and a nephew, Thad Busse and his wife, Valorie, all of Chanute.

He was preceded in death by his mother Juanita, a brother Charles Bennett, and a nephew Noel Bennett.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.

The family will receive friends on this evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel in Chanute.

Memorials in his name may be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital Cancer Center or the Charity of the Donor’s Choice and may be left with the funeral home.