Gilbert Roberts

ROBERTS, Mr. Gilbert Henry - Age 61, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2010 at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m., Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton officiating. Interment Crestwood Memorial Cemetery, G-2020 E. Hill Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Friday. Mr. Roberts will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Gilbert Henry Roberts, was born April 7, 1949 in Chattanooga, TN to Jeardeen (Henderson) Roberts and John Henry Roberts. When Gilbert was 3 years old, his mother, Jeardeen, died leaving his grandmother, Luella and father, John to raise him and his sisters. Growing up in Chattanooga, Gilbert was the youngest of four siblings. He attended Chattanooga Public Schools and Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. As a child, before school in the morning, Gilbert would make biscuits that would melt in your mouth! True to his birth order, as the youngest, Gilbert could never keep a secret. Once when his three older sisters stole their Daddy’s taxi cab, they paid Gilbert to keep quiet. He kept quiet until the second time when the girls refused to take him with them or pay him to keep quiet. Gilbert told their daddy the first chance he got. Fortunately, their father did not believe him, otherwise, his sisters would have been in big trouble. Brought up in a religious family, church and Sunday school were mandatory every Sunday. Gilbert was consistently described by friends and family as well mannered, easy going, dependable, and genuinely a nice person. In 1976, after visiting his older sister, Johnnie and her husband, Don in Flint, Gilbert decided to move to Flint and accepted a position at General Motors Fisher Body Auto Plant. He loved his job and only missed work when he was seriously ill or in order to attend a funeral. Gilbert survived numerous plant closures and relocations retiring as a member of UAW local 699 after 30 years of employment. His pride and joy was his son Gilbert who is a technology expert. During Gilbert’s retirement, he enjoyed casinos, playing the lottery, sports, traveling, spending time with his family, and randomly grading individuals on life’s tasks. For instance, it was nothing for Gilbert to grade a family member as they completed such a task as hanging curtains. Most people received grades in the ‘D’ range. According to Gilbert, this left room for improvement. Gilbert was a generous, kind, caring, humorous and compassionate person and will be dearly missed by all who loved him. Mr. Gilbert Henry Roberts leaves to cherish his memory: son, Gilbert Ianramon Roberts of Lordstown, OH; stepson, Havey Buchanan; step granddaughter, Irionah Buchanan both of Canton, OH; 3 sisters, Johnnie L. Ricks of Flint, MI, Audrey J. (William) Stallings of Yonkers, NY, and Ruby C. Roberts of Nashville, TN; 3 nieces, Donna J. Ricks of Alexandria, VA, Johnnetta S.C. Ricks of Detroit, MI, and Loudean K. Ricks of Flint, MI; 1 nephew, Danyan Stallings of Yonkers, NY; devoted 1st cousin, Mezpeh Taylor of Cleveland, OH; and former wife, June (Martin) Roberts of Canton, OH; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, Jeardeen and John Henry Roberts and his grandmother Luella Roberts.

Gilbert Roberts

April 7, 1949 - April 28, 2010