David Martin Roberts

1937 - 2021

ROBERTS, David Martin, better known as Pabocs during his grandfather years, passed away on July 8, 2021, in Richmond, Virginia. We are saddened by his death but he lived a full life to 84.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Sadie; his brother, Claude; his sisters, Betty and Jane.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Tracey, Susan, Christian, Patrick and Matthew and their spouses, Alan, Courtenay and Kathleen; his grandchildren, Carter, Gabrielle, Henry, Sophie, Wiley, Lola and David.

Our dad lived, like most people, a life full of hyperbole. Here are a few of those tales of his history in brief:

Little Davey grew up a scrawny kid in the Midwest during WWII, collecting soup cans for scrap. He was smart, studied hard, grew strong and earned his way into the University of Notre Dame, where he played freshman football and baseball. He graduated in 1958 and followed the school's athletic programs with gusto forever. He fell in love with our mom, married young and worked at a soup company (Campbell's) and then later at Richfood and C.F. Sauer.

He produced a flock of five kids who he provided for and loved. He had good friends he frolicked with, including fellow Knights on occasion.

Our dad had another love besides his family and friends, and that was his love of the sun and the bronze skin it gave him. The man could soak up the sun's rays like Superman. This superpower of his was enhanced by his trusty bottle of Hawaiian Tropic suntan oil. And on those most daring days of fighting off clouds from his laid-back beach chair wearing his cherished orange Birdwell's, he went all out, lathered in pure baby oil!

Our dad also had a funny relationship with food. The man never lacked for a meal, ever, but he always asked what that next meal would be, even as he sat down to eat the one in front of him. The one thing he was always sure of, though, was how much his friends, his wife, his kids and his grandkids loved him.

We'll miss you forever, Dad, our Mighty Pabocs.

Funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic School, 9501 Gayton Rd., Richmond, Va. 23229, https://saintmary.org/give-to-saint-marys-2/.