Elvin D. Roberts

42 years of friendship with Elvin. Our friend—whose love for music, westerns, and sweets was unmatched—passed away Sunday night, July 5, 2026, a few months shy of his 80th birthday. During our 42-year relationship with Elvin Roberts, he endeared himself to us with his funny and surprising one-liners, his songs, his stories, his consideration, and his creativity.

Elvin was born in Caldwell, Kansas, on October 18, 1947, the eldest of three brothers to Fredrick and Ernestine Roberts. With few supports or services available at the time for people with intellectual disabilities, he was sent to Norton State Hospital, where he lived for eight years before beginning his relationship with Futures. While receiving day and case management services from us, Elvin lived with his family in Caldwell and rode the bus to Wellington. He moved to Northfield Apartments in Caldwell in 1995, where he enjoyed having his own apartment and being part of the apartment community. For seven years, he also participated in "Futures of Caldwell," which operated from a downtown building and provided work and day services for Futures clients living in Caldwell.

When Elvin's health required a bit more monitoring in 2018, he moved to a group home in Wellington, where he lived with several other men. Then, when a smaller setting better met his needs in 2023, he moved to a duplex shared with three housemates. As his health declined due to aging, Elvin experienced frequent hospital and rehabilitation stays before accepting hospice care in his home in January. This gave him the dignity of remaining in the home he knew and loved until his passing, surrounded by familiar surroundings and staff who knew him best.

Elvin was deeply loved during his 42 years at Futures. He made many friends and shared a special bond with so many, especially with Don and David. He was also a caring housemate, frequently asking how the others were doing. Elvin had a creative side and loved to sing. He would often serenade his staff, Faith Shapley, a devoted bird lover, with Oh! Susanna, putting his own spin on the lyrics, changing “with a banjo on my knee” to “with a PIGEON on my knee” just for her. It was one of the many little ways Elvin brought smiles to those around him.

Elvin was a social guy. He LOVED all the attention he could get. When out and about, he would call out to people he passed and offer a friendly, “Hey, what’s your name? My name is Elvin.” He was one of the kindest-hearted people you could meet; it was rare to see him angry. As he grew older and his health declined, he occasionally became a little grumpier, but he was always quick to apologize if he felt he hadn't been as friendly as usual.

His sharp mind never ceased to amaze us. Staff would print off math problems, convinced they might stump him, but one quick look was usually all Elvin needed before giving the correct answer. We also recently stumbled upon a collection of short stories he had written. His stories often featured his fellow peers and staff sharing small adventures together, and they always ended on a happy note—a reflection of the optimism and kindness that came so naturally to him.

He had a smile that was contagious and warmed the hearts of those around him. That same warmth extended to the simple moments, like sharing his morning cup of coffee with his staff, Lois Augustyn.

Elvin enjoyed working. Staying busy was always important to him, and he took pride in doing paid work at Futures. Eventually, he decided he was ready to retire and enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle, but he still wanted his schedule and routine. He was definitely a routine kind of guy.

Health support lead Ruth Mock shared, “Elvin was very special to me. We bonded over many health appointments. He was always in a rush to get somewhere and, as soon as we got there, he worried about being late for the next thing.” Ruth said she enjoyed the banter she and Elvin shared. “He would randomly grin and say, ‘I like you, Ruth,’ or ask me if I’m ok, always concerned about others. When leaving the hospital or appointments, I’d say, ‘Praise the Lord,’ and he would yell, ‘Hallelujah!’”

Of his final days, longtime case manager Molly Clark shared, “I went to see Elvin the other day. He was sleeping, and he looked so peaceful and comfortable. I’m sad we won’t have his spunky self around any longer, but seeing him so at peace was very comforting. Knowing the great care he received at Futures for 42 years made me emotional. Our staff do such an amazing job.”

“Being able to keep someone in the home they know and love until the end of their life is so important to us,” says Cristy Harris, dir. of program services. “And to do this well, speaks to the compassion and commitment of everyone who cared for Elvin.”

We wish to express special appreciation to Lois Augustyn, Faith Shapley, Teagan Bucher, Allison Elliott, Rita Ramey, Kristina Meyers, Nina Carter, Kelsey Miller, Amanda Greer and Denise Bucher for the exceptional care they provided during Elvin's final months and years.

Anyone who knew Elvin knew about his love for Snickers. Nodding upward, Yvonne Rentschler smiled and said, “Snickers will be even better now.”

Elvin is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ernestine Roberts and his brother Lynn Roberts.

          He is survived by his brother, Marvin Roberts and his family.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Schaeffer Mortuary, Caldwell, KS. Inurnment will follow at Caldwell City Cemetery.