Bert Roughton

Pardon the cliche, but Bert was truly a man who was "larger than life." When he walked into a room, he was the presence in it. Whenever he did something, he did it with a passion; from gardening to electrical engineering. And, from my observation, his greatest passion was the lovely Betty. I don't know if I've ever seen a man so in love, even after 60+ years. And speaking of passions, I will never forget that when I first met his son Bert Jr., Bert Sr. wrote me a letter asking me about...

I will miss you every day of my life. I will remember all the times we shared. I love you for loving Mother, that is the greatest gift a child can receive. Thank you, Your Daughter

Reading about Mr. Roughton's life and seeing all the comments in this guest book remind me again how important good fathers really are to all of us. Here's to all of them and to all who love them. Keith

Bert, Danny and I are thinking of you and especially your children as I am sure that loss of this kind is new to them. Your father sounds like a wonderful man, but then...so are you. Take care....Danny and Grace

"And drag from musty depths my Part,
I'll play it well if Thou command,
Be it with brain or hands or heart,
And at the end, I, never brooding,
will return to sand"

- from the poem "A Young Man's Desire,"
by Bert G. Roughton (1940s?).

Over the Christmas holidays in 2008, I decided to load up my boys (ages 11 and 13) and make an "around the world in 8 days" trip. We visited every living grandparent and great-grandparent they had. After spending the better part of an afternoon with Grandmama and Grandaddy at their apartment in Dallas, the boys and I headed to the car. As we talked about their great-grandparents, the boys voted unanimously that they were "the coolest old people." This visit will forever be special to us. ...

Dear Bert, Melinda and the Roughton family: I read Bert Sr.'s obituary online in the Corsicana paper and was struck by how much he had accomplished in life. All the places he lived, his service record and his career accomplishments. Bert, I remember how often you bragged on his gardening skills. But I'm sure he would count his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as his finest contributions to this world. I am sorry for your loss, my deepest sympathies to Betty.

Bert, I'm so sad for you. Please know that my thoughts and love are with you.

Dad was an original. I spent most of my life trying to make him proud of me. I now know that he was proud of all of his children. He also loved my mother more that life. Just prior to his death he whispered "take care of mom".

Although we all will miss this wounderfull man, we all know that Dad is in a better place.

Your son,
Brian