Charles F. Roberts
Marriages
Rea Fay
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3 D Obituary - December 7, 2014
Charles was born April 20,
1922, to Andrew Franklin and
Paulina Charlotte Roberts in
Sedalia, Missouri. Charles grew
up and graduated high school in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Charles was a member of what
Tom Brokaw has now termed
“The Greatest Generation”.
Like many others, he, his three
brothers and two sisters, grew
up during the Great Depression
in circumstances that are now
termed with words like disadvantaged
or impoverished.
When World War II came,
Charles left home to serve in the
Army Air Corps as a radioman
on B-24 Liberators in the China
Burma India campaign. Those
years of service meant facing
death, world travel, and life
changing experiences. For this
generation of soldiers and sailors, we are forever indebted for their
many sacrifices and for providing the life we now enjoy.
Not everyone will know Charles’ many occupations or his work
ethic. He was an accomplished mechanic, a wood worker, an avid
gardener, a pilot, and even a novice cartoonist. In the early years, he
and his family of four sons lived in what we would call a shack today.
Later, they constructed their own house which for later generations
would become the only “home” they knew. In his spare time,
Charles would work on his vegetable gardens, fruit trees, incredible
lawn, and wood working. He could do more work in a day than was
reasonably possible. This unassuming man was an optimist and did
not complain. In fact, this countryman was kind, exhibited generosity,
and had many friends and legions of acquaintances. It always
seemed like everyone knew him everywhere we went.
For many years, he had the responsibility of supporting a large
family and, I think, did so joyfully and with pride and a sense of
humor. I do know full well that he loved his wife, Faye; his children,
David, Gary, Steve, and Michael and all his grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren. I am not sure if Charles always knew the
best way to express his love. But, whenever one of his children
(who were grown adults), or later his grandchildren, left his front
yard for the trip back to their home, he would tell them all that he
loved them, and until their car was no longer visible, he stood in the
yard. His heart—and his life—was full.
I take solace in the knowledge that this humble man is fully restored
in heaven. He is with his old crew; his beloved brothers, and
all the others he loved so much. I also believe that he would not
wish to come back into his aged body and to poor health. He would
want us to live fully in sweet remembrance and to carry on with
life as he always did and to look forward to the day that we will all
be together without pain or sorrow in the place the Creator has for
prepared for us.
Indeed, it is not enough to say that our community—and the
world—is a much better place because of the life and work of
humble folk like Charles F. Roberts and the other members of the
“Greatest Generation”. I loved him and his memory will forever
live on in me through my service to this country and through my
son who I named Charles in honor of him. My greatest hope is that
my son is every bit of the man his great-grandfather was.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Leonard,
Kenneth and Bobbie; son, Charles and great-granddaughter, Roseanna.
Charles is survived by his wife of 71 years, Rea Fay Roberts; sons,
David of Cortez, CO; Gary of Bayfield, CO; Steven of Gilbert, AZ;
Michael of Grand Junction, CO; sisters, Margie Steinweg of Eldon,
MO, and Eunice Brown of Mount Royal, VA; ten grandchildren and
16 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is December 9, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Callahan-Edfast
Mortuary Chapel with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Military
Honors and Interment will be at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery
of Western Colorado at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to Wounded Warriors
Project or HopeWest Hospice.
Services have been entrusted to Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7A Death Notice - December 3, 2014
Charles F. Roberts, 92, Grand Junction, died Nov. 29, 2014, at Palisades Living Center.Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Calla-han Edfast Mortuary Chapel; Services will be at the chapel at 11 a.m.; and interment will follow at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.Mr. Roberts was a body and fender mechanic.He is survived by his wife Rea Fay; four sons, David of Cortez, Gary of Bayfield, Steven of Gil-bert, Arizona, and Michael of Grand Junction; two sisters, Margie Steinweg of Eldon, Missouri, and Eunice Brown of Mount Royal, Virginia; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.Contributions to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675, or HopeWest and Hospice, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.
