SOUTH PORTLAND – Clinton Willard Roberts Sr., 87, passed away peacefully Feb. 18, 2011, surrounded by his family at Gosnell Memorial Hospice Center, Scarborough. He was born March 22, 1923, in Machias, son of Clinton Daniel and Beryl Johnson Roberts.
The family moved to Portland in the early 1940s where his father worked as a lighthouse keeper at Ram Island and Spring Point. Before enlisting in 1943, Clinton worked as a filling station attendant. During his World War II Army service he served in England, France, Belgium and Holland as a heavy machine gunner with the 40th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion. Clinton married Elizabeth Marston in 1946. In 1952 they moved to Peaks Island to raise their family of five children. Clint was an active member of Brackett Memorial Church, where with the Rev. Richard Davis he started the island Boy Scout troop, and was president of the Couples Club. He also was a founding member of the island’s San Souci Square Dance Club. Clinton was known as a hard worker throughout this life. In the 1950s he worked for Portland Fish Co. and was known as the best filet cutter in the city. During the 1960s Clinton was the Oakhurst Dairy milkman on Peaks. He also opened two fish markets with his father-in-law, Everett Marston; the first on Spring Street, Portland and the second on Peaks Island. In 1966 the family moved to South Portland. In 1968 Clint began his final work as a cross country truck driver, working as an independent driver for Fox and Ginn, Mayflower, and E. W. Noyes. He was always ready to help friends with odd jobs and loved working on cars and doing yard work. After retiring Clinton became a member of People’s United Methodist Church. Clinton and his wife spent many summers in Machias at the family camp in the Jacksonville Methodist Campgrounds. There he helped with construction projects and helped host many weekly bean suppers. He especially liked visiting with family members and helping his brother, Floyd, rake blueberries. Clint also enjoyed fishing and hunting, and continued square dancing with South Portland Sunset Squares until being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. But Clint’s favorite pastime was spending time with family. Summer barbecues and holiday gatherings with extended family were always high points and Clint always did the dishes after every event. Clinton spent his last four years at South Portland Nursing Home, where he received exceptional care from a staff of excellent caregivers.
Clinton is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; and his five children and their families, Clinton Roberts Jr. and his wife, Virginia, of Ogden, Utah, Gary and his wife, Sue Ellen, Gwendolyn and her husband, Blaine Davis, Gregory and his wife, Patricia, and Alice St. Cyr and her husband Donald, all of South Portland. Clinton has 10 grandchildren, Clinton Michael, Christopher, Barry Brado Jr., Virginia, Elizabeth Brado, Carrie, Donald “DJ” St. Cyr, Gregory Jr., Joseph St. Cyr and Rebecca, and five great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Tristan, Holden, Lucy and Marion. Clint has three surviving brothers, Floyd of Machias, Cleo of Craftbury, Vt., and Clarence of South Portland; many nieces and nephews.
For those who wish, donations may be made in Clinton’s memory to South Portland Nursing Home, 42 Anthoine St., South Portland, ME 04106 or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074. Arrangements by Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.