Richard William Roberts
FREEMONT — Richard William Roberts of Fremont, Michigan died peacefully in his sleep on Monday May 25th, 2026. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 13, 1937–the first child born in the United States to Fred and Clara Marie Roberts, who had emigrated from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. He was fiercely proud of his Cornish roots–keeping in touch with extended relatives there, researching his family history, and educating anyone he could about the land of Kernow.
Known to many as Bill, he graduated from Wayne State University after studying chemical engineering. Until his retirement, he worked as a chemist for the City of Detroit’s Water and Sewage Treatment Department. He would often remind his sons that water had put them through school.
On May 24, 1975 he married Ruth Helen Salo, who had just finished medical school six days before their wedding. Their honeymoon took them to Cornwall–the first of many trips they would take together. Between traveling as a family and journeys in their retirement, they visited Alaska, every corner of the continental United States and most places in between, as well as half of the provinces of Canada. Without a doubt, though, his favorite adventure was also the one that took them farthest from home: a long planned trip to New Zealand whose highlights included celebrating evensong in Christchurch Cathedral.
Bill was an avid reader, especially of history and biblical commentary. He also enjoyed vegetable gardening. Tomatoes were his favorite crop, having first learned to love them in Detroit public school greenhouses. His own tomatoes were usually destined for home-canned tomato juice or tomato soup. His favorite pastime of all, however, was being a grandfather. In all the many photos his family looked through, nothing could bring a bigger smile to his often stoic face than time with his grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved brother Jack Roberts; his dear sister Dorothy Auld and her husband Robert Auld; his niece Sharon Mapes; and his grandniece Beth Cook. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ruth Helen Salo Roberts; his children Matthew (Kristen) Roberts and Timothy (Jennifer) Roberts; five grandchildren: Penn, Lydia, Whitaker, Blythe, and Jude; his nephew John (Jean Anne) Auld; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday June 19, 2026, at First Christian Reformed Church of Fremont (721 Hillcrest Ave; Fremont, MI 49412). Visitation will begin at 10am, followed by the service at 11am and a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to one of the many organizations Bill donated his time and money to: Fremont Christian School, TrueNorth, Love Inc., the Salvation Army, and Calvin University. You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com. Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont, Michigan (231) 924-2130.