Carlton Banks Roberts

ROBERTS, Carlton Banks, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.) - Born March 7, 1921 in Riverside, CA; passed away September 26, 2007 surrounded by his family. After attending San Jose State College, he joined the Navy in 1942 as a fighter pilot. He served on the USS Saratoga in World War II and the USS Boxer in the Korean Conflict. He commanded a fighter squadron in 1960 and spent the last four years of his military career as an instructor at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. In retirement, he became a farmer and grew wine grapes on a ranch in Redwood Valley. He was active in the Mendocino County Farm Bureau and the North Coast Grape Growers Association. In 1977, he sold the ranch and took his wife, Marie, on a three year cruise on a 46 foot sailboat along the coast of Mexico. After that, he bought a house in Healdsburg and lived there for 27 years. He leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Marie, son Carlton, Jr. of Anchorage, Alaska and daughter, Diane, of Novato. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carol, and son, Bruce. Carl was well-read and a great conversationalist, able to share his knowledge on wide-ranging subjects from horticulture to stock investments, literature, and current events. He could build or fix anything, and taught his children those skills. He will be missed by many friends, and by the stray cats who found safe haven under the wing of this fighter pilot. His wife and children and his large extended family will miss him most of all. At his request, no services will be held. He asked the Navy to spread his ashes at sea.