Bentley Roberts Sr.

Bentley Roberts Sr. NORFOLK - Bentley Martin Roberts Sr., 90, passed away Saturday, May 1, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. He was a Norfolk native and the son of the late Joseph and Elsie Broegler Roberts. He led a very happy life as a husband, a father of two, a grandfather of four, and a great-grandfather of five. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a chief aviation machinist's mate with 24 years service. After leaving the Navy, he began his career with the city of Norfolk retiring after 20 years as an assistant superintendent. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church for 66 years and a member of the Fleet Reserve Association Ocean View Branch 60. Few could love Norfolk as much as he. Over the years, he built and/or maintained four motorboats and a 28-foot sailboat and fished and explored all of the shores around the Tidewater area. He and his wife, Millie, built their home in 1950. He enjoyed managing home improvements including landscaping, building a fish pond and garage where he repaired cars and built the quality furniture that his family enjoys today. Like St. Francis, he loved plants and animals and his home included cats and dogs and many birdhouses that he built by hand. His annual garden produced a wide variety of fresh produce. He was a self- taught mechanic, carpenter, sailor, farmer, fisherman and philosopher. Mr. Roberts loved history and reading in general and loved to discuss politics and philosophy. He loved his country and his family as much as anyone could and his long and healthy life was always true to these loves. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mildred "Millie"; his daughter, Catherine Roberts Ford and her fiancé Kenneth Paulson; Bentley Jr. and his wife Judy of Burke, Va.; four grandchildren, Gregory Ford and his wife Nanci of Frisco, Texas, Matthew Ford and wife Susan of Newport, N.C., Eric Roberts of Sunnyside, N.Y. and Michael Roberts of Burke, Va.; five great-grandchildren, Cameron, Brendan, Melanie, Zachary and Kate Ford. A graveside service with full military honors will be conducted Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery by Father Joseph Metzger III with a reception following at Mr. Roberts' daughter's house. The family will receive visitors 4 to 6 p.m. today at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made through www.hdoliver.com.