Donald Roberts

Donald A. Roberts, Cdr, USN Ret, 84, went with the angels to be with the Lord on February 26, 2015. Don was born in Tawas Michigan in 1930. Don was greeted in heaven by his loving wife Muriel (Gill) Roberts, son Edward Michael Roberts, mother Erma Roberts, father Clyde Roberts brother Milton Roberts, son-in-law Jesse Robert (Bobby) Parrish, sister-in-law Margaret King, brother-in-law Robert King, Uncle Floyd Irish, Uncle William (Bill) Irish, cousin Dale Irish and many other loving family members.

Don was a loving and devoted Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, and Grandfather. He enlisted in the Navy to help his mother support his two younger brothers. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes Michigan in May 1948 mere weeks before his 18th birthday. He served a total of 30yrs in the Navy. He began his career as an E1 (Sailor) moving to the LDO path and retiring as a Commander (05). Don was one of the first LDO to make Officer and in doing so he became what the Navy calls a ‘Mustang’. During his Naval career Don served a total of 15 years on sea duty on the: USS Wasp, USS Tarawa, USS Shangri-La, USS Coral Sea, USS Midway, USS Independence, USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga, second time on USS Forrestal, and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier. He received the following Navy medals: Good Conduct (3), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (2), National Defense Service Medal with Star, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, all which he wore proudly.

Don leaves behind his loving family: His daughter Beth (Roberts) Parrish~ her husband Ronnie, grandsons Preston Parrish, JT Parrish, and great-granddaughter Bailey Parrish. His daughter Marsha (Roberts) Parrish-Avanus~ husband Arto Avanus, grandson Jeff Parrish~ great-grandson Jeffrey Parrish, granddaughter Jennifer Parrish~ great-granddaughter Gracelyn Parrish. His son Paul Roberts, and his daughter Denise (Roberts) DiDonato~ grandson Drew DiDonato, granddaughter Ashley (DiDonato) Gazley. His son Donald Roberts~ wife Tina, grandsons~ Donnie Roberts, Cohen Roberts, Connor Roberts, Carson Roberts. His son Arnold Roberts~ wife Angela, grandsons Parker Roberts, and Grant Roberts, brother Gary Roberts~ wife Connie, sister Penny (Roberts) Lackey, brother David Roberts, and his sister-in-laws, Delores Roberts, Melba (Gill) Doyle - husband Blake, Mildred (Gill) ~ husband Arthur. His Aunt Dale (Fidalis Groff) Irish, Uncle Ted Irish~ and his wife, Uncle Clayton (Barney) Irish~ wife Peggy, Aunt Jeanette (Irish) Blakely ~ husband Harold as well as many nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, first/second/third cousins.

Don was raised by a loving Mother and taught God's word. He lived his life helping others as she did. One of his many generous actions was during the 1960's Don and Murl took in 2 foster children even though they had five of their own. While in the Navy Don served as a Liaison Officer helping family members stateside while the service members were abroad. He did anything from contacting repair people to talking to trouble teens to contacting Superiors and/or Red Cross to bring home personnel due to emergency needs.

There were many things in life that Don enjoyed but most would agree that in his later years fishing with his son Paul rank right up at the top of the list. Whether they caught anything or not it didn’t matter. Some days they caught nothing and some days they caught whopper size fish. Either way it was always a good day to fish.

After retirement Don received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Florida Jacksonville Florida in August of 1983. Don was proud to be a long time member Wesconnett Lodge No 297 of Free and Accepted Masons. He was also a proud member of the Shriners Morroco Temple serving in the Legion of Honor including being the Commander of the Legion of Honor at one point. The Shriner's perform in various parades including the annual opening of the Beaches Parade to which the Legion of Honor carries the Flags. They participated in parades all around the southeast. He and Muriel enjoyed the Shriners and Legion of Honor activities all the while raising monies to help support the Shriner's Childrens Hospital.

Don made friends easily and did so with all his neighbors no matter where he lived. In the years following his retirement he met a group of people that frequented the Burger King on Westside for lunch. These people quickly became friends and were a wonderful support source after Muriel passed. He loved to have family to join him at BK and introduce us to his friends. Although the numbers at Burger King continue to dwindle, they are a special group of people to us. We thank them each and everyone for adding quality and friendship to our parent’s life’s. Thank You All.

Don and Muriel had so many wonderful friends over the years that brought wonderful memories into our lives. It is impossible to list them all and their heartfelt and funny stories that go with each. Therefore, let us say from the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU... you touched our lives and our parent’s lives and we are all better for having known you.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM Saturday March 21, 2015 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home 729 S Edgewood Ave Jacksonville, Florida followed by full Military Honors (USN)at Riverside Memorial Park 7242 Normandy Blvd Jacksonville, Fl 32205. . Don has requested a military burial at sea which the US Navy will perform after these services have concluded.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations to any of these: Shriner's Hospital for Children, The Leukemia Society or Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch. These are charities he supported himself.