JAMES WALKER ROBERTSON

    James Walker (J.W.) Robertson was born the 20th of February, 1931, the second of ten children born to Claude Lee Robertson and Ollie Edith Robertson, near Denver, Missouri.
    On June 27, 1949, he was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Betty Jane Roach, in Grant City, Missouri, before a Justice of the Peace. They celebrated 65 years of marriage this last summer. To this union, five children were born. Billy Lee, Mary Jane, Wanda Sue, Kenneth Eugene and James Michael.  Their home was always open to the children in the community, and many of these children considered them their adoptive parents.
    J. W. retired after spending 39 years of employment at Ringgold County Secondary Road Department as a heavy equipment operator, where he lost his right eye in the mid 60’s in a shop accident. Prior to that, he helped many farmers and was a long distance truck driver.
    J.W. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He spent many evenings serenading his sweetheart with love songs, many of which he wrote himself. He will be remembered as a fun-loving jokester with a quick wit and unmatched love for family.
    He was a huge Nascar fan, operated a lawn mower repair shop for many years, and just recently was a self-taught woodworker in his shop on the Redding square, where good friends gathered around the wood-burner for jokes and fellowship. As much as he loved to garden, it didn’t compare to his love of sharing his vegetables with friends and neighbors. He was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He was a good neighbor to everyone.
    J.W. passed away October 29, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older brother, Cleo, who passed away as a teenager; brothers-in-law: Jubal Daniels, Wesley Jones, Bill Harris; sister-in-law: Linda Robertson and nephews: Bobby Robertson and Tommy Robertson.
    Survivors include his loving wife Betty Robertson of Redding; children:  Billy Lee Robertson (Karen) of Saddlebrooke, Missouri; Mary Jane Jones (Ron) of Clever, Missouri; Wanda Sue Hosfield (Doug) of Mount Ayr, Iowa; Kenneth Eugene Robertson (Debra) of Mount Ayr, Iowa; and James Michael Robertson (Mary Beth) of Omaha, Nebraska. Grandchildren:  Jesse Robertson (Melissa), Julie Tommingo (Ross), Eric Jones (Erica), Brandon Jones, David Hosfield, Cass Hosfield (Annie), Jeff Robertson, Justin Robertson (Kim), Nichole Jensen (Bryan), Brianne Robertson (Chaz Curtis), Stephanie Robertson (Hector Martinez);  11 great-grandchildren; Sisters: Mary Catherine Daniels; Gladys Jones; Helen Harris; and Inez Overbeck (Larry); Brothers: Don Robertson; Rex Robertson (Freda); Max Robertson (Connie); and George Robertson (Sandy).  He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
    Services were held Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home with Reverend Skip Rushing officiating.
    Active Casketbearers were Eric Jones, Brandon Jones, Justin Robertson, Jeff Robertson, Cass Hosfield, David Hosfield and Jesse Robertson.
    Honorary casketbearers were Julie Tommingo, Stephanie Robertson, Brianne Robertson and Nikki Jensen.
    Burial was in the Redding Cemetery in Redding, Iowa.
    Memorial contributions are being accepted for a gift to the Redding community in his memory.