James E. Roberts

Bill Roberts as all his friends and family knew him died of congestive heart failure on Sunday morning, July 22, 2012. He was the youngest of six children and grew up on a farm near Atlanta, Texas. He left high school after the tenth grade and began working at Red River Arsenal. There he was drafted into the army and proudly served during World War II in the infantry, where he was involved in the liberation of concentration camps and the allied victory. He received a purple heart for a bullet wound during the war. His career in the food industry began in the Army where he attended cooks and bakers school. After the war, he began learning the trade of a butcher; and he genuinely loved working with the public and his life's work in a variety of meat markets. On October 25, 1945, he married Belma Gene Hall after his military service was complete. They settled in Longview, Texas, in 1959 after a series of work transfers with Safeway because they found it a welcoming community and a good place in which to raise a family. In Longview, he enjoyed learning to run a meat market and proudly served Brookshire's' and Skinners' markets. He was passionate about fishing, forty-two, and football especially the Dallas Cowboys. A lifelong Baptist, he was a member of Valley View Baptist Church at the time of his death. He enjoyed studying scripture and was possessed of a deep and trusting faith. He would have wanted any donations in his honor given to the Gideons for their ministry of distributing Bibles. His wife of 66 years, Belma Roberts, predeceased him on May 6, 2012. He is survived by his daughters Dr. Cathey Roberts of Austin, Texas, and Dr Carolyn Roberts of Los Angeles, and his son-in-law Morrie Roberts of Los Angeles; one sister, Helen Yates, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Earl Roberts and A.J. Roberts, and his sisters, Lucille Thompson and Adelle Rhyne. The family would like to thank Harold Vincent for his loving care and management of his needs in his last year, the staff at Eastman Estates, the staff at Good Shepherd Hospital, and Dr. Charles Newkirk and Dr. Bobby Brock for attending his medical needs. Visitation will be Thursday evening, July 26, from 6-8 pm at Rader Funeral Home, Longview. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, July 27, at 10 a.m. in Rader Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ronnie Starr officiating and interment in Rosewood Park Cemetery following services.

James E. Roberts

May 23, 1926 - July 22, 2012