Robert D. Waldo Roberts

greatest joy was his calling to study and serve the Lord, country and community — his life of

service was a gift to countless people.

Robert was born on January 8, 1935 to the late Raymond Roberts and Dova Dixon in Adams,

Kentucky. He was 1 of 5 Roberts children. His family moved from Kentucky to Ohio, then

settled in the Tampa, FL area. Robert graduated from Plant City High School in 1954. He then

studied at Southern Missionary College in Tennessee, where he met the love of his life,

Jeanette Hostetler. They were married on August 21, 1960, in Lakeland, FL, and, until her

passing, they shared nearly 63 years of devoted happiness together. They moved to both attend

Columbia Union College in Maryland, then to Virginia to start their careers – he as a minister

and Jeanette, a nurse. While in Virginia, their daughter, Brenda, was born, and Bob often stated

they really “became a family” when they became three, and their daughter Brenda was born.

Bob truly enjoyed living life to the fullest and found beauty in everyone he met and every place

he visited. They moved from Virginia to Michigan where Bob earned an advanced degree in

Theology. After receiving his masters degree, he joined the Army as a devoted Chaplain where

he mentored, counseled and cared for many all over the world. He deployed to Viet Nam and

wrote letters home every day to stay connected to the people he loved. He did the same while

stationed unaccompanied in Korea near the DmZ. Bob loved the physical and mental demands

the military provided.

Robert’s greatest calling was that of selfless service – to our Lord and Savior as a minister, to

our nation as a soldier, to nature’s richness as a Florida State Park volunteer, and more.

Education was also a passion of his – he earned his PhD in counseling and was a gifted

minister and counselor. Bob loved his country and was honored to serve for over 30 years as a

U.S. Army Chaplain. Throughout his life, Bob focused on the good and never dwelled on the

negative. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed making fun of any situation. Bob was

happiest in nature, and greatly valued living in it along the Homosassa River.

Robert is survived by his daughter, Brenda, grandchildren, Regan and Alexander, Conor, and

great-grandchildren: Anne Marie and Ruth.

The family expresses a special thanks to Robert’s in-home nurse, Nancy Pope, as well as his

extended caring community of neighbors and church family who made it possible for him to

remain in his home for as long as possible, as was his wish. To honor Robert’s lifelong

commitment to service, we encourage you to step onto the path he walked his whole life — to

love your neighbor, to serve your community in the way you feel called.

Bob and Jeanette’s unconditional fulfillment of vows to love “in sickness and in health” serve as

a beautiful testament to the sacrament of marriage and as an aspirational example to the

coming generations in their family.

For Robert’s memorial service, the family will receive friends

at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 8, 2023 at the Homosassa Seventh Day Adventist Church on

Cardinal Rd. Burial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in honor of Robert and Jeanette’s service to its mission:

https://friendshswp.org/.