John B. Robertson Jr., age 90, died April 5, 2013, at the VA Hospital in Jackson. John, better known as Happy, was born Jan. 9, 1923 in Goss.

He was the only child of Lillian Thompson Robertson and John Benton Robertson Sr. Happy grew up in Columbia, where he met and married his childhood sweetheart, Princess Burns.

After graduating from Columbia High School, he served in the Navy during World War II. Their first daughter, Patricia, was born in Columbia in 1944, followed by the birth of their second daughter, Ann, in 1947. In 1949 he moved his family to Brookhaven, where he established his home and business, Dixie Roofing & Sheet Metal Works.

During his lifetime, Happy was a deacon of the First Baptist Church in Brookhaven, a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and a past president of the New Orleans Chapter of the National Roofing Contractors Association.

He was an avid MSU football fan, and master at bridge, carpentry, story telling, bass fishing, duck hunting and piloting his airplane. Happy lived life with gusto and never doubted his ability to succeed at any endeavor he chose. He loved the Lord, his family and friends.

Happy is survived by his wife of 70 years, Princess; daughter Pat and husband, Johnny Bullen; daughter Ann and husband, Bob Martin; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Graveside services are 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit www.riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.