Charles William "Bill" Roberts

1937 - 2024

Charles William Bill Roberts

A Life Well Lived

Charles William Bill Roberts was born to parents Jack Alvie Roberts and Frances Lucille Mauser in Porterville, CA on August 19th, 1937, and passed away on February 23rd, 2024, also in Porterville. After graduating from Porterville High School and Fresno State, Bill spent the rest of his life in or near the city he loved.

Bill was a local civil engineer starting work at Strauss Engineering, which turned into Strauss & Roberts Engineering, and finally became Roberts Engineering. Working on 2nd St. for 52 years, Bill helped shape the city of Porterville and other Tulare County towns. He was proud of his contributions: designing and engineering the commercial buildings and infrastructure - streets, water, sewer, drainage systems - of much of Porterville and surrounding communities.

The mountains above Porterville played an important role in and shaped Bill's entire life. As a very small child, Bill was often taken to his grandparents cabin in Camp Nelson and spent many summers there. As young boys, Bill and his brother John hiked, fished, camped and learned about the mountains with their father, exploring places as far away as Funston Meadow. As adults, Bill, John and their good friend Doug Mead spent glorious weeks crossing the Sierras on horseback with Peaches and many other mules, carrying enough food and drink for delicious meals and evenings around the campfire.

This love of the mountains culminated in a development project above Camp Nelson led by Bill, John and Shan King. Alpine Village grew to be filled with over 50 cabins with a thriving water system. Bill built his dream cabin in this community and loved the people who surrounded him. It was in Alpine Village that Bill raised his sons and helped to raise his many grandchildren, giving them many of the kinds of experiences he'd enjoyed as a child. Sadly, the Castle Fire of 2020 destroyed Bill's cabin and much of Alpine Village.

Bills other great mountain love, Pecks Canyon, is in an inholding of the Golden Trout Wilderness. On land purchased from Larry Gill, Bill built a small cabin and cook shack with brother John, other friends, and family members. This special destination was accessed by horse and pack mule, hiking or helicopter and was the site of many party and family trips. Bill's Peck's Canyon continues to be loved by everyone who visits.

Bill is survived by his partner of 43 years, Jeri Roberts. Bill and Jeri shared many wonderful experiences in the mountains and traveled the world together. They especially enjoyed small cruises to otherwise inaccessible places. One of their favorites was a cruise around the western part of Alaska where they were in awe of the wild, grand landscapes, watched the overwhelming number of seabirds and abundance of wildlife, and were fascinated by the behavior of grizzly bears and their cubs.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Frances, stepmother Betty Roberts, his second wife Dixie Keeley, and best friends Doug Mead and John Roberts, his brother.

Bill is survived by his younger brother Jim Roberts (Pam) of Port Townsend, WA; first wife Diane Douglas of Carmel, CA; sons Todd (Susie) and Michael; granddaughter Mallory, and grandsons Weston and Nelson.

Bill and Jeri's love brought their families together and Bill helped raise and is also survived by 4 stepdaughters and their families: Lisa Johnson (Gary) and grandsons Alex and Ian; Dawn Camarena (Michael) and grandsons, Marcussen, Geoffrey, Oliver; Jonna Rossi (Scott) and grandsons, Sam and Jack; Jennifer Norgaard (Kevin) and grandchildren Zachary and Jessica. Bill was also blessed with five great grandchildren.

Jeri stayed with Bill until the very end at Bella Home and thanks the staff of Bristol Hospice. A celebration of Bills incredible life will be held this coming summer in the mountains he loved.