Obituary of Kenneth Roberts

Kenneth Roberts passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:00, at the GracePointe Church of the Nazarene, led by Hospice Chaplain John Williamson and Pastor Wayne Stallings. Mr. Roberts was born on May 19, 1924 in Indianapolis, IN and was a member of the GracePointe Church. He was the youngest of three sons born to Bert G. and Eveline Rice Roberts. Mr. Bert Roberts managed to find work in and around the Midwest until the west coast finally opened up with plenty of work in the Aircraft factories. With war approaching and a strong desire to learn to fly, Kenneth joined the Navy Flight program and was assigned a Patrol Bomber but later transferred to Carrier Operations where he was assigned to the USS Lexington CV-16 as a Hellcat pilot where he encountered KamiKazi action. He was called to teach Carrier Landings and Celestial Navigations in Lake Michigan. After being released from active duty, he married and moved to Little Rock, AR, where he worked for Swift & Co. while waiting to be approved to open a GI flying school. While there he obtained the Beechcraft franchise and sold, serviced, chartered and flew many thousands of hours for corporate and government personnel. The Beechcraft franchise became available in Shreveport and Mr. Roberts took advantage of the situation and moved. With a degree in Economics, he became involved in insurance and investments where he taught classes for the state of Louisiana. Kenneth became an instructor for Stegall Marketing and represented the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for many years. His greatest enjoyment was playing golf, fishing, and working in his shop. Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest brother, James, one son, Gary Lee. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Walker Roberts, and one daughter, Dr. Marla Jane Roberts and her husband, Tom LeBourgeois of Willis, TX. Also surviving are daughter, Wendy Walker, and son, Warren and wife Dana Walker of Shreveport, grandchildren, Geoff and Jessica Smith, Lindsey and Lauren Shrauner, and Michael, and three great grandchildren, Evan, Logan, and Jillian Smith; and brother, John Roberts. The family would like to thank the staff of Jordan?s Crossing Hospice for their care of Kenneth. They would also like to thank the staff of Overton Brooks VA Medical School and LSU Medical Center. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Heart Association or American Lung Association.