SIDNEY — Donald H. Roberts, 79, of Sidney, Maine, died on June 3, 2015, in Arcadia, Fla., after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer.

Don was born on July 29, 1935, in Machias, Maine, and graduated from Machias high school in 1953. Don had a successful career as a retail store manager and buyer, starting his career with F.W. Woolworth in 1953 through 1964. He then moved on to W.T. Grant from 1964 until 1976. He later purchased and ran Don and Judy’s On the Square general store and restaurant in Bowdoinham from 1978 through 1984. Don returned to retail management working for Grand City Department Store in Brunswick in 1984 through his retirement in 2005.

Don enjoyed the busy pace of retail stores but mostly loved the people he met throughout the course of the day, remembering many customers and their families by name. He was a loyal supporter of local businesses his entire life and was vocally opposed to the influx of big box store retail chains which made it hard for small businesses to compete.

Don was an Army veteran having proudly served as an Army Sergeant from 1959- 1963. He was 4th degree Knights of Columbus and Honor Guard.

Don and his wife Margaret enjoyed retirement to the fullest, traveling across the country to Alaska with a caravan of friends in their fifth wheel, visiting Ireland three times, boating up and down the Maine coast and spending winters in Florida where he made many great friends. He loved the North Maine Woods and looked forward to the annual camping trip every summer with family and friends.

Never one to sit still for long, Don was a talented craftsman and could build or fix just about anything, and was always willing to lend his “MacGyver” skills to anyone in need. He was an avid fisherman, boater, hunter, champion horseshoe, poker and cribbage player, and friend to all. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan in good times and in bad.

Don was predeceased by his mother Ida Mugnai and father Henry Roberts. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Margaret King Roberts, sons John Roberts of Bowdoinham, Maine, and Joe Roberts and his wife Nancy of Brewer, Maine, daughter Jeanne Wright and her husband Spencer of Augusta, Maine, stepdaughter Jennifer McBrierty and husband Tom of Freeport, Maine, stepsons Brian King and his wife Sarah of Belmont, Maine and Matthew King of Alexandria, Virginia. Don is also survived by a brother Paul Hoyt and his wife Velma of Machias, Maine, and a sister, Marie Gleske and her husband Helmuth of Machias, Maine. Don was the proud “Papa” to Cassie, Brent, Katy and Chris.

A celebration of life and funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 18 at Notre Dame Church in Waterville, ME at 11 a.m., with a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Tidewell Hospice, Philanthropy Department, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238 (www.tidewellhospice.org).