Joseph Delano (Del) Roberson

Joseph Delano (Del) Roberson, 88, of Benton, passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Del was born December 29, 1933, in Benton, Ark., to the late Rev. R. A. and Vennie Roberson. He was a 1952 graduate of Benton High School; attended Little Rock Junior College (now UALR), Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA); and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Texas, Austin, Texas. Del joined the Naval Reserve in 1951 while a senior in high school. He served two years of active duty during the Korean conflict as a supply officer aboard the USS Arequipa. He was stationed in Hawaii and the second year of service he was with the Arequipa in San Diego, Calif., as the ship was being decommissioned. After graduating UT in 1958 he joined Travelers Insurance Company in Little Rock, Ark., as a Field Representative in the Life & Health Department. The next year Travelers moved him to St. Louis, Mo., as a Field Representative in the life and health department covering the Missouri boot hill. Eventually he opened a branch office in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was then transferred to the Clayton, Mo., office as a Branch Manager. In 1966 he decided to return his family to Benton since his next move would possibly have been the Home Office in Hartford, Conn. After being in an insurance agency for 15 years, Del sold his partnership and served as Saline County Judge (1984-86). In 1987 Del opened Roberson & Associates Insurance Real Estate and Investment, Inc. With the dedicated help from invaluable Jackie Roberson, numerous agents and office staff, and most importantly, his daughter, Nancy Jackson, President, the agency known as Roberson and Associates Insurance has grown and served the people of Saline County, the State of Arkansas and beyond for the past 35 years. Under the leadership of Nancy, the agency continues to be a strong voice in the insurance industry. Del was a member of First United Methodist Church Benton where for more than 50 years he was a devoted member of the sanctuary choir. He was a member of the Wesley Sunday School Class which he helped form while still in high school. During his tenure as Saline County Judge, he organized the Saline County Industrial Development Commission. He was a 50-year member of the Benton Lions Club. He was elected District Governor District 7-L Lions Clubs International in 1986. He was always community minded, and his most beloved project was posting flags as a Lions' Club Project on national holidays. Del loved golfing and always claimed to have played golf courses in many parts of the world. His most memorable game was a "hole-in-one" at Port Douglas, Australia. Preceding Del in death were his twin grandsons, Tanner and Austin Dickey and his brothers Edwin Roberson (Little Rock, Ark.), Rev. Jerry Roberson (Savannah, Ga.) and Dr. Robert Roberson (Las Cruces, NM). Survivors are his wife of 67 years, Peggy Tull Roberson; daughters Laura Roberson Stilwell (Jim Ed) and Nancy Roberson Jackson (Brent) of Benton; Sisters Frances Fortier (Grants Pass, Ore.), and Virginia Fioravanti (North Hollywood, Calif.), Grandchildren: Katie Stilwell Bloodworth (Russell) Bentonville, Ark., Roberson Hunter Stilwell (Hannah) Benton, Ark., Leslie Stilwell Dunn (Hunter) Dallas, Texas, Zachary Dickey (Ashley) Wynne, Ark.; Kaci Dickey Vance (Luke) Little Rock, Ark., great-grandchildren: Ellen and Teddy Bloodworth, Scottlyn and Felicity Stilwell, Eloise and Sam Henry Dunn, and Logan Marie Dickey; another great-granddaughter (expected to arrive in February); and brother–in–law, Charles Lewis (Chuck) Tull (Lynne) Hot Springs Village, Ark; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the doctors and staff in the ICU Unit of Encore Heart Hospital Clinic, Pleasant Hill Senior Services and a most special thank you to Chris Braithwaite, a personal friend and skilled nurse, for his care. In lieu of floral tributes, memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Market, Benton, Ark., 72015; Methodist Family Health, 1600 Aldersgate, Little Rock, Ark., 72205, or CJcOHN, PO Box 1146, Benton, Ark., 72018. A private family burial will be at Pine Crest Memorial Cemetery at 10 a.m., Monday, November 21. The family will receive friends in the church sanctuary at 1 p.m., prior to the 2 p.m. memorial service. Clergy officiating will be Rev. Keith Dodson, Rev. Walt Garrett, and Rev. John Dill. On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.