Larry Earl Roberts

Roberts, Laurence Earl died Wednesday morning, October 26, 2016 at Silverado Turtle Creek after a long illness. He was born February 10, 1932 in Casper, Wyoming. Larry attended public schools in Casper, and graduated number one in his class from the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and Sigma Tau Fraternity (Honorary Engineering Society). In both high school and college, Larry balanced school and work with his active involvement in the Army ROTC. In addition to his successful undergraduate career, Larry went on to receive his MBA from Southern Methodist University. He moved to Dallas in 1956 and began a lengthy career as a chemical engineer for the Atlantic Refining Company (later Atlantic Richfield). He met Luta Bob Archer (then a medical student at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and later a staff radiologist at the Dallas VA Hospital) while teaching Sunday school at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church. The two were married in the same church in 1959.

Larry was kind, thoughtful, talented and industrious, and a devoted husband and father. His favorite boyhood activities were skiing in winter, playing baseball in summer, and hunting for deer and elk. He was proud that he paid his way through college by working for the Bureau of Mines, and that he helped bring the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field in Alaska to full production while working for Atlantic Richfield. Larry and Luta enjoyed their many friends and fun times in the Swingin’ Saints Square Dance Club and Redus Bible Class at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. They also loved traveling together. Two of their most memorable trips were a tour of Italy and a Colorado white water rafting trip. Always involved and busy with his family, Larry’s activities ranged from playing tennis to coaching youth sports to building television sets and picnic tables. His grandchildren will also fondly remember him for his active participation in their school and sports functions, and for indulging them in the more-than-occasional sweet treat. We shall miss him greatly.

He is survived by his children Susan Driver, and Clayton Roberts and wife Cristie, and grandchildren Angela and husband Drew Crawford, Wynn, Camille and Melissa Driver, and Laura and Clayton Roberts. His wife Luta and son Morgan precede him in death. The family extends special thanks to the many compassionate and caring people at Silverado Turtle Creek. A private graveside service will be held Saturday, October 29th at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Dallas, 3001 Knox Street, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75205 or www.alz.org