James H. Roberts

he was three they moved to Central Texas. He excelled in school graduating from Jefferson High School. Then while studying engineering at San Antonio College he was drafted into the Army to serve in WW II.

With his engineering background and ham radio experience he was placed with the Army Air Corps, shipping out on the Queen Mary. “Over There” he was placed with BAD 2 group stationed near Wharton England. His duties included outfitting air craft like: B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, and P-51s with radios and other electronic equipment. While there he invented and designed an electric device which allowed the bombardier in the lead plane to simultaneously drop all the bombs for every bomber in the group. This helped to increase the effectiveness of Allied bombing. After V.E. day he remained in Europe serving for an additional 6 months. He returned home on a smaller victory ship during the height of a terrible storm in the North Atlantic. That cured him from ever wanting to get on a ship crossing the high seas again.

Upon returning stateside he entered the University of Texas to continue his education, graduating with honors with a degree in engineering. After graduating, he returned to San Antonio to join two of his brothers; Driscoll and Hub, to run the Guadalupe Valley Pecan Company, a business started by their father. Through the years they built the largest Pecan Shelling and Packaging company in Texas.

Along the way, he met his best friend’s (Russell Watson) youngest sister Joanne. They wed in 1950 and started their family right away, having a daughter in their first year; Frannie, and then a son, Jimbo in 1952.

They enjoyed life to the fullest, traveling yearly to their honeymoon site of Ruidoso and Cloudcroft New Mexico. They also made a yearly trip to Port Aransas on the Texas coast. These road trips were always filled with conversation and laugher making the miles pass quickly.

He helped expand operations at the Guadalupe Valley Pecan company, adding a second plant and later building another, the largest structure south of downtown’s highrises at the time. An engineering genius he designed and built machinery specific to the processing of pecans. This led to a U.S. Patent for a machine that effectively separated pecan meats from their cracked shells.

James Roberts enjoyed: bowling, golf, horse racing, crossword puzzles, and gardening. He always said, “There is nothing like a home-grown tomato.”

He and his brothers sold Guadalupe Valley Pecan Company in 1963. Their help was needed by the new owner; Raymo, with its’ operations for another 4-5 years. After that his engineering skills were in high demand. He worked with local companies like: Fiesta Spices, Pace, and Judson Candies. The consulting for Judson Candies turned into a full-time job that lasted almost another 30 years.

James enjoyed going to his BAD 2 reunions with Joanne, meeting at locations all over the United States. There they renewed old friendships with his brothers in arms. If you were one of his friends, you could count yourself lucky because of it.

He also loved Tex-Mex food, fond of enchiladas and Chili Rellenos. Wednesday’s was enchilada day, a tradition in Texas. So we met for lunch at places like: La Fonda, Browns, and Los Barrios. It was also a Saturday night tradition to eat out at restaurants like: Alamo Café, Chuy’s, and The Barn Door.

Sundays were reserved for family and friends. Joanne would cook his favorite meals as everyone gathered at his home to feast and talk about their lives.

He said he wanted to live to 100 and he nearly did. James died July 26th 2018, just 8 days short of his 98th birthday, with Joanne at his side holding his hand.

James Roberts is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 68 years Joanne, daughter Frannie, son Jimbo, granddaughter Lissa (Ty) Mitchell, great granddaughters McLean and Mills Mitchell, brother Edwin (Mary Alice) Roberts, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all that knew him.